List of operas by George Frideric Handel

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George Frideric Handel's operas comprise 42 musical dramas that were written between 1705 and 1741 in various genres. Though his large scale English-language works written for the theatre are technically oratorios and not operas, several of them, such as Semele (1744), have become an important part of the opera repertoire. Other English language oratorios which are sometimes fully staged as operas include Saul , Samson , Hercules , Belshazzar , Theodora and Jephtha .

Contents

Parnasso in festa , a festa teatrale composed by Handel to an Italian text and performed in London to celebrate the royal wedding of Anne, Princess Royal and Prince William of Orange in 1734, has many characteristics of an opera.

List of works

List of operas by George Frideric Handel. All are opera seria in three acts, unless otherwise stated.
HWV TitleLibrettoPremière datePremière place, theatreModern revivalNotes
1 Almira (Der in Krohnen erlangte Glücks-Wechsel, oder: Almira, Königin von Castilien) Hamburg, Oper am Gänsemarkt Some music lost; announced as a Singspiel but has no spoken dialogue
2 Nero (Die durch Blut und Mord erlangete Liebe)Hamburg, Oper am Gänsemarkt Music lost
3 Florindo (Der beglückte Florindo)Hamburg, Oper am Gänsemarkt 1 arias preserved
4 Daphne (Die verwandelte Daphne)Hamburg, Oper am Gänsemarkt A sequel to Florindo, intended to be performed on the day after it. 1 aria and 1 chorus preserved
5 Rodrigo (Vincer se stesso è la maggior vittoria) Florence, Teatro di via del CocomeroSome music is lost
6 Agrippina Venice, Teatro San Giovanni Grisostomo  
7a/b Rinaldo London, Queen's Theatre HWV 7b is the 1731 revision; the libretto of a revision of 1717 also exists
8a/b/cLondon, Queen's TheatreHWV 8c designates the version of May 1734 and its November revival. The prologue Terpsicore added to the November 1734 revival is 8b.
9 Teseo London, Queen's Theatre5 acts
10 Silla London, Queen's Theatre? (or Burlington House?) Much of the music was re-used in Amadigi
11 Amadigi di Gaula London, King's Theatre Various additions during the initial run and the revivals of 1716 and 1717
12a/b Radamisto London, King's TheatreLibrettos of the revised versions of December 1720 and 1728 exist
13 Muzio Scevola London, King's Theatreonly Act 3 is by Handel
14 Floridante London, King's TheatreRevised versions premiered in 1722, 1727 and 1733
15 Ottone London, King's TheatreRevised versions premiered in 1726 and 1733
16 Flavio London, King's TheatreThe libretto of the revised version of 1732 exists
17 Giulio Cesare London, King's Theatre 
18 Tamerlano London, King's Theatre 
19 Rodelinda London, King's Theatre 
20 Scipione London, King's Theatre 
21 Alessandro London, King's Theatre 
22 Admeto London, King's Theatre 
23 Riccardo Primo London, King's Theatre 
24 Siroe London, King's Theatre 
25 Tolomeo London, King's Theatre 
26 Lotario London, King's Theatre 
27 Partenope London, King's Theatre 
28 Poro London, King's Theatre 
29 Ezio London, King's Theatre 
30 Sosarme London, King's TheatreFirst draft, Fernando, Re Di Castiglia, revived in 2007 by Il Complesso Barocco
31 Orlando London, King's Theatre 
32 Arianna in Creta London, King's Theatre  
A 11 Oreste London, Covent Garden Theatre Pasticcio
33 Ariodante London, Covent Garden Theatre  
34 Alcina London, Covent Garden Theatre 
35 Atalanta London, Covent Garden Theatre 
36 Arminio London, Covent Garden Theatre 
37 Giustino London, Covent Garden Theatre 
38 Berenice London, Covent Garden Theatre  
39 Faramondo London, King's Theatre 
A 13 Alessandro Severo London, King's TheatrePasticcio
40 Serse London, King's TheatreAlso known as Xerxes
A 14 Giove in Argo London, King's TheatrePasticcio
41 Imeneo London, theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields  
42 Deidamia London, theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields  
49 Acis and Galatea Cannons, Little Stanmore Variously described as a serenata, a masque, a pastoral opera, a "little opera" (by the composer), an entertainment, and an oratorio

See also

References

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