Georg Friedrich Händel: Rodrigo Hwv5: Opera Vocal Scores

“Rodrigo” was premiered in autumn 1707 in Florence and is therefore one of Handel’s early stage works. The composer, only 22 years old, wrote a densely-woven musical scenario for hisfirst opera composed in Italy.

It masterfully portrays the dramatic states of mind of the protagonists surrounding the Iberian tyrant Rodrigo and the plot full of deception, betrayal, adultery, war as well as thetransformation wrought by Rodrigo’s abdication. The work was not, as was long thought, a commission from the Prince of Medici. Despite this, “Rodrigo” seems to have been so popularthatHandel extended his stay in Italy and was able to compose several operas during the following period. In “Rodrigo”, the mastery which made Handel’s succeeding opera “Agrippina” such a success, is already clearly evident.

“Agrippina” consequently made Handel’s name famous throughout Europe and soon led to his first journey to London.

The new vocalscore is based on Volume II/2 of the “Halle Handel Edition” (BA 4083). The appendix contains the surviving variants in the versions of the first performances from Handel’s lifetime. Performance materialavailable for hire.

• Based on the Urtext of the “Halle Handel Edition”.
• Original Italian text underlaid with German singing translation.
• Basso continuo and editorial additions in smallprint.
• Foreword in two languages (Ger/Eng)