Handel: Susanna Overture

Description

FE101                                         0202 strings  

Overtura;   Non troppo Allegro;   (Lentement)

Susanna, a work steeped in the style of an English Pastoral Opera, had its premiere at Covent Garden on the 10th February 1749, and achieved 4 performances. It was revived for a single further appearance on 9th. March 1759.

Franklin B. Zimmerman is credited in his book ‘Musical Borrowings’ with the discovery that the Overture to Susanna is drawn extensively from John Blow’s 1684 St. Cecilia Ode, ‘Begin the song’ Christopher Hogwood has the following to say on the subject; ‘the skilful modernizing that Handel has applied to the piece does him credit while flattering Blow; it has a calculated dramatic function in helping to establish the Englishness of the scene with a wistful hint of  temps perdu’.  (‘Handel’. 1984.)

Handel had exceptionally large orchestral forces at his disposal in the 1749 season and consequently the score of this Overture has ‘con’ and ‘senza ripieni’ markings. In smaller scale performances these markings could well prove redundant.

Full score                                             £6

Set of parts: wind and strings (43221)  £18

Extra string parts                                 £4

Handel Overtures Series:

Multi-buy option: any 4 scores for £20; any 4 sets of parts £50