1720 · London
by HANDEL, George Frideric 1685-1759
London: Published by the Author. Printed and Sold by Richard Meares Musical-Instrument-Maker and Musick-Printer in St. Pauls Church yd. & by Christopher Smith at ye. Hand & Musick-Book in Coventry-Street near ye Hay-Market.N.B. Not to be sold any where else in England, 1720. 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 1f. (recto typeset privilege and dedication to King George I with woodcut armorial device, verso blank), [i] (blank),121 pp. Engraved throughoout. Occasional mild soiling to margins; very small crease to lower right corner of several leaves.
Bound with:
Handel. Arie Aggiunte di Radamisto. London: Published by the Author. Printed and Sold by Richard Meares Musical-Instrument-Maker and Musick Printer in St. Pauls Church yd. & by Christopher Smith at ye Hand & Musick-Book in Coventry-Street near ye Hay-Market. N.B. Not to be sold any where else in England, [1721]. 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 38 pp. Engraved throughout. Title slightly browned and soiled; small hole to corner of first leaf; occasional small stains and soiling with music unaffected.
Two volumes in one. Tall folio. Full modern dark brown leather with raised bands on spine with titling gilt.
In very good condition overall. First Edition, first issue of both parts. Rare. With the Privilege not present in some copies. Händel-Handbuch I, 172. Smith p. 53, nos. 1 and 2. BUC p. 429. Hoboken Vol. 5, 29 and 30. RISM H258 and H261.
First performed in London at the King's Theatre on 27 April 1720, with text by Nicola F. Haym after the Italian drama L'Amor tirannico O Zenobia by D. Lalli; revised, with the addition of 13 new pieces, for a performance at the King's Theatre on 28 December 1720.
"The printing of the score was heralded by a publicity campaign. A press announcement on 12 July 1720 stated that it "is now Engraving finely upon Copper Plates by Richard Meares, Musical Instrument-Maker and Musick-Printer... NB To make this Work the more acceptable, the Author has been prevailed with to correct the whole'. On 3 December 'the Printer presumes to assert that there hath not been in Europe a Piece of Musick so well printed, and upon so good Paper'... It appeared on 15 December, fortified by a Privilege of Copyright granted to Handel on 14 June... The name of the engraver, Thomas Cross, appears on the last page of the score, which is indeed a handsome volume. Smith's name confirms that Handel was concerned in the publication, but there is no proof that he corrected the plates or supplied the bass figuring ..."
"... On 14 March 1721 Meares advertised 'several Additional Songs' ... These Arie Aggiunte di Radamisto, comprising the ten new arias and duet composed for the December 1720 revival, but not the quartet or accompanied recitative, were published a week later on 21 March, and the two collections subsequently sold together." Dean: Handel's Operas 1704-1726, pp. 365-66.
" ... on April 27, Radamisto, Handel's first opera for the Academy, was presented to a full house, the King and "his ladies," as well as the Prince of Wales, being in the audience. Mainwaring says that "several gentlemen were turned back, who had offered forty shillings for a seat in the gallery" (usually selling for two shillings and sixpence). The success was tremendous, and indeed Radamisto is one of Handel's great operas. It has a good libretto, and the work is well and tightly composed even though the proportions are large. Radamisto contains elaborate instrumental numbers, ritornels and preludes, in addition to a wealth of great arias." Lang: Handel, pp. 174-75.
"Radamisto proved to be one of the greatest operas [Handel] ever produced in England. ... The crowds flocked to Radamisto like a modern mob to a notorious prize-fight, and the opera had an unbroken run till the season ended on 25th June. ... Radamisto was easily the most popular opera of its epoch. ... The airs from Radamisto were being sung everywhere." Flower: Handel, pp. 128-29.
One of the rarest and most desirable of all Handel's opera scores, bound with the volume of supplemental arias often lacking. (Inventory #: 39632)
Bound with:
Handel. Arie Aggiunte di Radamisto. London: Published by the Author. Printed and Sold by Richard Meares Musical-Instrument-Maker and Musick Printer in St. Pauls Church yd. & by Christopher Smith at ye Hand & Musick-Book in Coventry-Street near ye Hay-Market. N.B. Not to be sold any where else in England, [1721]. 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 38 pp. Engraved throughout. Title slightly browned and soiled; small hole to corner of first leaf; occasional small stains and soiling with music unaffected.
Two volumes in one. Tall folio. Full modern dark brown leather with raised bands on spine with titling gilt.
In very good condition overall. First Edition, first issue of both parts. Rare. With the Privilege not present in some copies. Händel-Handbuch I, 172. Smith p. 53, nos. 1 and 2. BUC p. 429. Hoboken Vol. 5, 29 and 30. RISM H258 and H261.
First performed in London at the King's Theatre on 27 April 1720, with text by Nicola F. Haym after the Italian drama L'Amor tirannico O Zenobia by D. Lalli; revised, with the addition of 13 new pieces, for a performance at the King's Theatre on 28 December 1720.
"The printing of the score was heralded by a publicity campaign. A press announcement on 12 July 1720 stated that it "is now Engraving finely upon Copper Plates by Richard Meares, Musical Instrument-Maker and Musick-Printer... NB To make this Work the more acceptable, the Author has been prevailed with to correct the whole'. On 3 December 'the Printer presumes to assert that there hath not been in Europe a Piece of Musick so well printed, and upon so good Paper'... It appeared on 15 December, fortified by a Privilege of Copyright granted to Handel on 14 June... The name of the engraver, Thomas Cross, appears on the last page of the score, which is indeed a handsome volume. Smith's name confirms that Handel was concerned in the publication, but there is no proof that he corrected the plates or supplied the bass figuring ..."
"... On 14 March 1721 Meares advertised 'several Additional Songs' ... These Arie Aggiunte di Radamisto, comprising the ten new arias and duet composed for the December 1720 revival, but not the quartet or accompanied recitative, were published a week later on 21 March, and the two collections subsequently sold together." Dean: Handel's Operas 1704-1726, pp. 365-66.
" ... on April 27, Radamisto, Handel's first opera for the Academy, was presented to a full house, the King and "his ladies," as well as the Prince of Wales, being in the audience. Mainwaring says that "several gentlemen were turned back, who had offered forty shillings for a seat in the gallery" (usually selling for two shillings and sixpence). The success was tremendous, and indeed Radamisto is one of Handel's great operas. It has a good libretto, and the work is well and tightly composed even though the proportions are large. Radamisto contains elaborate instrumental numbers, ritornels and preludes, in addition to a wealth of great arias." Lang: Handel, pp. 174-75.
"Radamisto proved to be one of the greatest operas [Handel] ever produced in England. ... The crowds flocked to Radamisto like a modern mob to a notorious prize-fight, and the opera had an unbroken run till the season ended on 25th June. ... Radamisto was easily the most popular opera of its epoch. ... The airs from Radamisto were being sung everywhere." Flower: Handel, pp. 128-29.
One of the rarest and most desirable of all Handel's opera scores, bound with the volume of supplemental arias often lacking. (Inventory #: 39632)