Handel's cantatas, unlike his other genres, were never published, possibly due to their personal nature and covert political or social messages.
Performer Biography
The soloists on this album, sopranos Sophie Bevan and Mary Bevan, are sisters, and baritone Benjamin Bevan is their uncle, continuing a strong family musical heritage.
Composer Biography
Handel reportedly entered a musical contest with Domenico Scarlatti, a celebrated harpsichord player, at Cardinal Ottoboni's palace in Rome.
Recording & Production
The recording uses a pitch of 415 Hz, accounting for the differing low Roman and high Venetian pitches used in 18th-century Italy.
Composer Biography
Handel, at age 21, embarked on a three-year journey to Italy in 1706 after saving 200 ducats to travel independently.
Composer Biography
A contemporary diarist noted that Handel's harpsichord and organ playing in Rome in 1707 amazed everyone, especially on the largest organ in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
Historical Context
During Handel's time in Rome, opera was forbidden by Papal edict due to a previous scandal at the Carnival.
You might also enjoy...
Handel & Companye
Georg Friedrich Händel: Italian Cantatas & Arias
Magnificat
Missa non sine quare
Handel antes de "El Mesías": Cantatas a una, dos y tres voces
