Susanna (HWV 66) (Full Score, hardback)

Handel Susanna (HWV 66) (Full Score, hardback)

Splendid beauties: Handel’s cantatas and oratorios in the Halle Handel Edition.

Since 1955 the Halle Handel Edition (HHA), edited by the Internationale Georg-Friedrich-Handel Gesellschaft, has been published by Bärenreiter-Verlag.  Since then, the major part of Handel’s output has been made available in the HHA, providing a reliable basis for the study of Handel for both practical performance and scholarship.  Alongside the publication of usually three new volumes per year, Bärenreiter, often working with the editorial staff of the HHA, has also revised older published editions, together with the corresponding performance material.

On completion of the Complete Edition, the oratorios and larger cantatas will comprise 32 volumes.   Over the last many years, Bärenreiter has invested heavily in this project, and as well as the regular publication of new editions, volumes which have been out of print, sometimes for decades, have been made available again.

Susanna (HWV 66) an oratorio in English in 3 acts was premiered at Covent Garden in 1749.  The story of Susanna and the Elders is based on the Apocrypha (Daniel Chapter 13) and tells the story of a virtuous young woman (Susanna) who is pursued by two Elders of the exiled Jewish commmunity.  They falsely accuse her of sexual promiscuity whilst lusting after her themselves.  Justice is served by Daniel who challenges the consistency of the accustaions and exposes the two Elders as liars.

- performance material available for hire BA4013-72