Revision History
(In reverse chronological order)

14 February, 2000

L'Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato (HWV 55)

• First performance information modified.
• Notes modified.

16 August, 1999

Joshua (HWV 64)

• Original cast from first performance added. 

Solomon (HWV 67)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from revival added. 

The Choice of Hercules (HWV 69)

• Original cast from first performance added.

The Triumph of Time and Truth (HWV 71)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Alexander's Feast (HWV 75)

• Original cast from first performance added.

28 April, 1999

Deborah (HWV 51)

• Date of first "note" corrected.

Sosarme, re di Media (HWV 30)

• Date of last performance of 1734 revival corrected.  (Thanks again, Joe Jarvis!)

13 March, 1999

Handel Chronology - Part 2 revised after receipt of the following e-mail message from
Fred Vink (vik@sem.hhs.nl) :

"In the biographic part you mention several times Handel's visit to a Haarlem church in which he played the organ. It is perhaps interesting for you to know why he and other composers (such as W.A. Mozart) came to Haarlem to play that particular organ. The reason was that in those days the organ, built by Christian Mueller in 1735-1736, was the greatest and the most beautiful sounding instrument of its time. The church (de Grote of St. Bavo) and the famous Mueller-organ still exist today."

24 November, 1998

Rinaldo (HWV 7a)

• Cast listing from 1717 revival corrected. Gaetano Berenstadt, who played Argante, was an alto-castrato.

5 July, 1998

Olinto pastore, Tebro fiume, Gloria or O come chiare e belle (HWV 143)

• First performance information modified.

15 June, 1998

Tamerlano (HWV 18)

• 1731 revival cast mistakenly listed as "1725" cast. (Thanks again, Joe Jarvis!)

28 May, 1998

Berenice (HWV 38)

• Misspelling of character Demetrio corrected. (Thank you, Joe Jarvis!)

13 May, 1998

Admeto, re di Tessaglia (HWV 22)

• Some cast names are corrected. Specifically:

  May 1728: London, King's Theatre, Haymarket -- contains new aria for
  Mrs. Wright as Orinda [sex of role changed--premiere had Orindo].
  
  Cast from 1731 revival:
  Alceste : Anna Bagnolesi (contralto)
  Antigona : Anna Strada del Po (soprano)
  Trasimede : Antonio Gualandi called Campioli (alto-castrato)
  Meraspe : Antonio Montagnana (bass)
  NOTE: The role of Orindo/Orinda was cut in 1731 revival.
  
  Cast from 1754 revival:
  [Orindo remains cut]
  Trasimede : Christina Passerini (soprano) -- vocal range changed
  
  

• Source: Communication from Pat Rogers. (Based on Baselt's Händel-Handbuch, the Ellen Harris ed. of the original libretti, and some unpublished drafts by the late J. Merrill Knapp.) E-mail: progers@rocky.claremont.edu

4 April, 1998

• Any references to Handel pursuing a legal career during his university years are dropped.
• Rationale: "Handel was not aiming to become a lawyer. In Handel's day, the term 'studying law' meant to study the liberal arts. He was not going to become a lawyer, nor was that his father's intention."
• Source: Communication from Kyle Grove. E-mail: s01.kgrove@wittenberg.EDU

1 November, 1997

Alexander Balus (HWV 65)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from revival added.

13 October, 1997

Concerto Grosso in F major, Op 3 No 4a (HWV 315)

• Note modified.

7 June, 1997

"Grand Concertos", Opus 6 (Nos. 1-12) (HWV 319-330)

• Completed score dates added or modified.

Organ Concertos, Opus 7

• Note added.

Organ Concertos, "Second Set" (HWV 295-300)

• Note added.

19 April, 1997

Rinaldo (HWV 7a)

• Note added.

Aminta e Fillide (HWV 83)

• Composition date added.

Hendel, non può mia musa (HWV 117)

• Composition date added.

Olinto pastore, Tebro fiume, Gloria (HWV 143)

• First performance date added.

La Lucrezia (HWV 145)

• Composition date added.

11 April, 1997

Joseph and his Brethren (HWV 59)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Casts from revivals added.

Hercules (HWV 60)

• Casts from revivals added.

Belshazzar (HWV 61)

• Casts from revivals added.

The Occasional Oratorio (HWV 62)

• Cast from 1746 performances added.
• Cast from 1747 performances added.

10 April, 1997

Semele (HWV 58)

• Cast from 1 December 1744 revival added.

9 April, 1997

Messiah (HWV 56)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Listing of revivals rearranged.
• Casts from revivals added.

8 April, 1997

Samson (HWV 57)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Casts from revivals added.

7 April, 1997

Saul (HWV 53)

• Casts from revivals added.

6 April, 1997

Ariodante (HWV 33)

• Libretto entry modified.

Alcina (HWV 34)

• Cast from 1736-7 revivals added.

La Resurrezione (HWV 47)

• Libretto, "First performance", and "notes" entries modified.
• Original cast added.

Acis and Galatea (HWV 49b)

• Cast from the 10 June 1732 performance added.

Esther (HWV 50b)

• Cast from the 2 May 1732 performance added.

Deborah (HWV 51)

• Original cast from the first performance added.
• Casts from revivals added.

Athalia (HWV 52)

• Original cast from the first performance added.
• Casts from revivals added.

5 April, 1997

Riccardo Primo, re d'Inghilterra (HWV 23)

• Note added.

2 April, 1997

Radamisto; 2nd version (HWV 12b)

• Cast from 1721 revival added.

Muzio Scevola - Act 3 (HWV 13)

• Cast from 1722 revival added.

Floridante (HWV 14)

• Cast from 1733 revival added.

Alessandro (HWV 21)

• Casts from 1727 & 1732 revivals added.

30 March, 1997

Tamerlano (HWV 18)

• Cast from 1731 revival added.

Rodelinda, regina de' Langobardi (HWV 19)

• Cast from 1725 revival added.
• Cast from 1731 revival modified.

Scipione (HWV 20)

• Cast from 1730 revival modified.

Sosarme, re di Media (HWV 30)

• Cast from 1734 revival modified.

29 March, 1997

Ottone (HWV 15)

• Casts from revivals added.

Flavio, re de' Langobardi (HWV 16)

• Cast from 1732 revival modified.

Giulio Cesare in Egitto (HWV 17)

• Cast from 1725 revival modified.
• Cast from 1730 revival modified.
• Cast from 1732 revival added.

17 March, 1997

St. John Passion

• Discussion added.

8 March, 1997

L'Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato (HWV 55)

• Libretto information modified.
• Notes modified.

Hercules (HWV 60)

• First performance details revised.

9 November, 1996

Amadigi di Gaula (HWV 11)

• Casts from revivals added.

Radamisto; "2nd version" (HWV 12b)

• Cast from January-February 1728 revival added.

Floridante (HWV 14)

• Casts from revivals added.

3 November, 1996

Israel in Egypt (HWV 54)

• Composition dates modified.
• Orginal cast from first performance added.
• Notes added.

Judas Maccabaeus (HWV 63)

• Orginal cast from first performance added.
• Notes added.

27 October, 1996

Casts (original and revival) revised for:

Rodrigo (HWV 5), Agrippina (HWV 6), Rinaldo (HWV 7a and HWV 7b)

26 October, 1996

Serse (HWV 40)

• Note added.

Messiah (HWV 56)

• Note added.

Concerti Grossi, Op 6 Nos 1-12

• Published entry added.

An Oratorio

• Note augmented.

14 October, 1996

Deidamia (HWV 42)

• Note added.

Music for Comus (HWV 44)

• First performance date added.
• Notes added.

Acis and Galatea (HWV 49b)

• Note modified.

Esther (HWV 50b)

• Revival date added.
• Notes modified.

Israel in Egypt (HWV 54)

• Note modified.

L'Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato (HWV 55)

• Revival date added.

Messiah (HWV 56)

• Composition dates augmented.
• Note added.

Semele (HWV 58)

• Note added.

Joseph and his Brethren (HWV 59)

• Composition dates augmented.

Judas Maccabaeus (HWV 63) (HWV 63)

• Note added.

Joshua (HWV 64) (HWV 64)

• Note added.

Alexander Balus (HWV 65) (HWV 65)

• Note added.

Theodora (HWV 68) (HWV 68)

• Note added.

Jephtha (HWV 70) (HWV 70)

• Composition dates augmented.
• Note added.

Parnasso in festa (HWV 73) (HWV 73)

• Note added.

From scourging rebellion (HWV 228.9)

• Note added.

Foundling Hospital Anthem (HWV 268)

• Revisions added.

Concerto a due cori in B flat major, No. 1 (HWV 332)

• First performance added.

Concerto a due cori in F major, No. 2 (HWV 333)

• First performance added.

Concerto a due cori in F major, No. 3 (HWV 334)

• First performance added.

Rossane

• Revival added.

19 August, 1996

The Famous Water Peice (sic.) in D major (HWV 341)

• Borrowings added.
• Published added.
• Note modified.

8 August, 1996

• The G.F. Handel Chronology begins!: 1685-1738

• First Performance and Revival information augmented for several operas.

Il pastor fido (HWV 8a)

• Borrowings augmented.
• Note added.

Dances; Il pastor fido (HWV 8c)

• Notes augmented.

Amadigi di Gaula (HWV 11)

• Note added.

Floridante (HWV 14)

• Borrowings added.
• Note added.

Ottone, re di Germania (HWV 15)

• Note added.

Giulio Cesare in Egitto (HWV 17)

• Notes added.

Tamerlano (HWV 18)

• Notes added.

Scipione (HWV 20)

• Borrowings added.
• Note added.

Admeto, re di Tessaglia (HWV 22)

• Notes added.

Partenope (HWV 27)

• Note added.

Poro, re dell'Indie (HWV 28)

• Note added.

Arianna in Creta (HWV 32)

• Note added.

Esther (HWV 50b)

• Note modified.

Deborah (HWV 51)

• Notes added.

Parnasso in festa (HWV 73)

• Genre changed to serenata.
• Borrowings added.
• Note modified.

Alexander's Feast (HWV 75)

• Notes augmented.

This is the day which the Lord hath made (HWV 262)

• Borrowings added.
• Note added.

Ormisda (HWV A3)

• Note added.

25 June, 1996

Partenope (HWV 27)

• Spelling of composition title corrected.
• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from 1737 revival added.
• Source: Piotr Kaminski. E-mail: 101650.151@compuserve.com

19 June, 1996

Almira (HWV 1)

• Note added.

Trio sonata in G minor, Op. 2 No. 2 (HWV 387)

• Note modified.

27 May, 1996

Water Music, Suite No. 2 (HWV 349)

• Key corrected to D major

26 May, 1996

NOTE: All revisions of 26 May, 1996, originated from Piotr Kaminski.
E-mail: 101650.151@compuserve.com

Rodrigo (HWV 5)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Agrippina (HWV 6)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Rinaldo (HWV 7a)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from 1717 revival added.

Rinaldo (HWV 7b)

• Date of first performance modified.
• Original cast from first performance added.

Il pastor fido (HWV 8a)

• Date of first performance modified.
• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from 1734 revival added.

Teseo (HWV 9)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Silla (HWV 10)

• Location of first performance modified.

Amadigi di Gaula (HWV 11)

• Libretto entry modified.
• Original cast from first performance added.

Radamisto (HWV 12a)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Radamisto (HWV 12b)

• Original cast from revival performance added.

Muzio Scevola - Act 3 (HWV 13)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Floridante (HWV 14)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Ottone, re di Germania (HWV 15)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from 1733 revival added.

Flavio, re de' Langobardi (HWV 16)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from 1732 revival added.

Giulio Cesare in Egitto (HWV 17)

• Original cast from first performance modified.
• Cast from 1725 revival added.
• Cast from 1730 revival added.

Tamerlano (HWV 18)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Rodelinda, regina de' Langobardi (HWV 19)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from 1731 revival added.

Scipione (HWV 20)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from 1730 revival added.

Alessandro (HWV 21)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Admeto, re di Tessaglia (HWV 22)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from the 1731 revival added.
• 1754 revival added.
• Cast from the 1754 revival added.
• Note added.

Riccardo I, Re d'Inghilterra (HWV 23)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Siroe, Re di Persia (HWV 24)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Tolomeo, re d'Egitto (HWV 25)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Lotario (HWV 26)

• Libretto: Giacomo Rossi's name added as librettist.
• Original cast from first performance added.

Poro, re dell'Indie (HWV 28)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from 1731 revival added.

Ezio (HWV 29)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Sosarme, re di Media (HWV 30)

• Original cast from first performance added.
• Cast from 1734 revival added.

Orlando (HWV 31)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Arianna in Creta (HWV 32)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Ariodante (HWV 33)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Alcina (HWV 34)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Atalanta (HWV 35)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Arminio (HWV 36)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Giustino (HWV 37)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Berenice (HWV 38)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Faramondo (HWV 39)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Serse (HWV 40)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Imeneo (HWV 41)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Deidamia (HWV 42)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Saul (HWV 53)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Semele (HWV 58)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Hercules (HWV 60)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Belshazzar (HWV 61)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Susanna (HWV 66)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Theodora (HWV 68)

• Original cast from first performance added.

Jephtha (HWV 70)

• Original cast from first performance added.

4 May, 1996

Composition Titles by Genre -- HWV Catalog reorganized.

• "Oratorio" and "Oratorio (pasticcio)" categories moved from "Sacred vocal music" to "Music for the Theatre" heading (includes exceptions -- read on).
• Rationale: "The HWV includes oratorios in 'Oratorische Werke'. Note they do not say 'Geistliche' or sacred works. Almost without exception, they were written for the theatre. Exceptions: La Resurrezione (HWV 47) was a Good Friday entertainment in the Marchese Ruspoli's palazzo in 1708, Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (HWV 46a) of 1707 was also privately produced, and the first version of Esther (1718; HWV 50a) was for James Brydges' private establishment either at Canons or at his town home on Albemarle Street. Messiah (HWV 56) was first produced in a "music hall" (Dublin) and then mostly at Covent Garden... Winton Dean would, I'm sure, agree that the oratorios are theatrical works (Handel's Dramatic Oratorios & Masques)."
• Source: Communication from Howard Serwer. E-mail: hs7@umail.umd.edu

La Resurrezione (HWV 47)

• "Note" added to entry. See next revision for rationale and source.