ADDITIONAL NOTES GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Born Halle 1685. Died London 1759. ‘UN PENSIERO NEMICO DI PACE’ FROM IL TRIONFO DEL TEMPO E DEL DISINGANNO, HWV46A Composed 1707. Il Trionfo del tempo e del Disinganno was composed and first performed in 1707. It was Handel’s first oratorio and, throughout the course of his career, was revised a further two times, for a total of three different versions. With the libretto by Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili, it is the story of a competition between Beauty, Pleasure, Time and Disillusionment, with the overarching message being: we are only young and carefree for a very short time; then we get old and die!
JULIA LEZHNEVA BAROQUE BRILLIANCE BRISBANE Mon 10 Oct 7pm
Richard Tognetti Director & Violin Julia Lezhneva Soprano
MELBOURNE Sat 15 Oct 7.30pm
PORPORA
In caelo stelle clare fulgescant I. In caelo stelle clare fulgescant II. Exulta, exulta o cor! III. Care Deus cordis amantis IV. Alleluia
BACH
Orchestral Suite No.1 in C major, BWV1066 I. Ouverture II. Courante III. Gavotte I & II IV. Forlane V. Menuet I & II VI. Bourée I & II VII. Passepied I & II
HANDEL
Salve Regina, HWV241 I. Salve Regina II. Ad te clamamus III. Eia ergo avvocata nostra IV. O Clemens, o pia
SYDNEY Sat 8 Oct 7pm Wed 12 Oct 7pm Tue 18 Oct 8pm
‘Un pensiero nemico di pace’ is a da capo aria sung by Bellezza (Beauty). While Bellezza is trying to disavow the very notion of Tempo (Time), in this aria she is actually running from Tempo and his ‘voracious’ scythe, thus demonstrating that Tempo not only exists but that he is coming after her.
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL ‘FELICISSIMA QUEST’ALMA’ FROM APOLLO E DAFNE, HWV122 Composed 1710. Despite the anonymous libretto, Handel’s dramatic cantata, Apollo e Dafne, is based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, as told by Petrarch in Canzoniere. The story begins with Apollo, who has just vanquished the horrific Python and freed the people of Delphi.
Interval VIVALDI
Sinfonia from Ottone in Villa, RV729
Apollo’s arrogance, which extends to him claiming that he is a better archer than even Cupid, goads Cupid to punish his boasting by shooting him and making him fall hopelessly in love with the nymph, Dafne. And so begins the iconic story of unrequited love.
HANDEL
Un pensiero nemico di pace from Il Trionfo del tempo e del Disinganno, HWV46a
HANDEL
Felicissima quest’alma from Apollo e Dafne, HWV122
HANDEL
Sonata a 5 in B-flat major, HWV288 I. Andante II. Adagio III. Allegro
HANDEL
Alessandro, HWV21 Alla sua gabbia d’oro (from Act II) Brill nell’alma (from Act III)
‘Felicissima quest’alma’ is the very aria that seals Apollo’s fate. On hearing her gorgeous voice and seeing her exquisite face, he is instantly smitten with Dafne, casting all else to one side as he sets about winning her heart. The pizzicato string accompaniment and lilting oboe melody are present in all three of Dafne’s arias in the cantata.
Approximate durations (minutes): 14 – 25 –13 – INTERVAL – 4 – 4 – 6 – 9 – 6 – 5 This concert will last approximately one hour and 50 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.