George Frideric Handel: Arianna (dramma per musica after a libretto by Pietro Pariati), HWV 32. Autograph
Scope & Content:
ff. 24v, 82v and 84v are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 3v. Act I. The stage directions for scene 1 precede the Minuet (marked Andante). 2. f. 22v. Sc. 11. The last words of Arianna’s recitative (‘mi compiaci…tu taci’) are on f. 57. 3. f. 29. Sc. 12. The ‘Balli...
George Frideric Handel: Ariodante (dramma per musica after a libretto by Antonio Salvi), HWV 33. Autograph
Scope & Content:
The recitative ‘Ah che questo’ and air ‘Il primo ardor’ (Act I, sc. 11; H-G., pp. 48-50) and the King’s air ‘Più contento’ (Act II, sc. 6, H-G., p. 82) are not present in this MS. ff. 7v, 24, 62v, 72v are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 1. Overture. At the foot of...
George Frideric Handel: Arminio (dramma per musica after a libretto by Antonio Salvi), HWV 36. Autograph
Scope & Content:
ff. 39r, 80v, 81r are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 5. On foot of the page ‘Mitt[woch?] angefangen Sept 15 1736’. 2. f. 26. ‘Fine dell’Atto Primo Sept 19. 1736’. 3. f. 48. ‘Fine dell’Atto 2do Sept 26. 1736’. 4. ff. 71v-78. Act III, sc. 8. The recitative (‘Per...
George Frideric Handel: Atalanta (dramma per musica after a libretto by Belisario Valeriani, HWV 36. Autograph
Scope & Content:
f. 68v is ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 23. ‘Fine dell’Atto 1. April 9. 1736’. 2. f. 44. ‘Fine dell’Atto 2do April 14. 1736’. 3. ff. 51v-61. Act III, sc. 6 (H-G., p. 68). The arrangement of the MS. is as follows: f.51v: Recitatives down to ‘vostro core’. f. 52...
George Frideric Handel: Deidamia (melodramma by Paolo Antonio Rolli), HWV 42. Autograph
Scope & Content:
Between ff. 15 and 16, and 76 and 77 are leaves ruled with staves but otherwise blank; ff. 17v, 59v and 78v are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 3. Act I, sc. 3. At the bottom of the page: ‘angefangen. [here is the symbol for Monday]. Octobr 27. 1740’. Both section...
George Frideric Handel: Faramondo (dramma per musica after a libretto by Apostolo Zeno), HWV 39. Autograph
Scope & Content:
The numbering of the scenes in the MS is different from that in H-G. Points of note: 1. f. 1. ‘angefangen den 15 Novembr 1737 Dienstag’. 2. f. 12v. Act I, sc. 5. The passage printed within dotted brackets in H-G., p. 18, are in the MS. 3. ff. 13, 16-18. A setting of ‘Vanne che più ti miro’ ...
G.F. Handel: Flavio (drama per musica after a libretto by Matteo Noris) (HWV 16); 1723. Autograph. (Handel-Gesellschaft LXVII; Hallische Handel-Ausgabe II/13, 1993). ff. 33v, 36v, 47v, 88v and 91v are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. For a copy see Add. MS. 31572; for selections see R.M.1...
G.F. Handel: Floridante (dramma per musica after a libretto by Francesco Silvani) (HWV 14); [1721, 1733]. Autograph. (Händel-Gesellschaft LXV).
Scope & Content:
The MS. differs considerably from the version in H-G. The part of Rossane was originally written for a Contralto (Maddalena Salvai), but when the opera was revived in 1733 it was sung by a Soprano. Consequently the recitatives for Rossane in the earlier version are different from those sung in 1...
George Frideric Handel: Giulio Cesare (dramma per musica by Niccolò Francesco Haym after a libretto by Giacomo Francesco Bussani), HWV 17. Autograph
Scope & Content:
Except when otherwise stated, the words only of the recitatives are written, without music. f. i is a preliminary leaf with a note by Nicolai (‘This opera wants all the Recitativ: and seems very incomplete’). Reversing the volume, on f. 154v, is a repetition of the beginning of the chorus ‘Ritor...
George Frideric Handel: Giustino (dramma per musica after libretti by Niccolò Berengani and Pietro Pariati), HWV 37). Autograph
Scope & Content:
Between ff. 4 and 5, 29 and 30, 79 and 80 are folios ruled with staves but otherwise blank, not foliated; ff. 4v and 62v are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 1-6v. Overture. ‘Agost 14. 1736’ at foot of f. 1. The Overture seems originally to have been shorter. The p...