Alexander Balus

Alexander Balu (HWV 65) is an oratorio in three parts by Georg Friedrich Händel.

Formation

According to his dating of the autograph score Handel wrote the first two acts of Alexander Balu from June 1 to June 24, 1747, the third to 30th June. The entire score with instrumentation was completed on July 4th. In the same year he wrote from July 19 to August 19 nor the oratorio Joshua.

The premiere took place two weeks after the Joshua take, namely on March 23, 1748, at Covent Garden Theatre. As on similar occasions was given as Entr'acte a new concert. This is probably the short time before composed Concerto a due cori in F major, No. 2 ( HWV 333).

Libretto

The librettist of the work was Reverend Thomas Morell, who supplied the lyrics for several of the late Handel oratorios. The fabric of the plot is based on the apocryphal First Book Maccabees (1 Macc 1-10). Thematically, he is so close to the previous Judas Maccabaeus Jonathan in this work is a brother of Judas.

People

The cast was sung at the first performance of the following singers:

• Alexander Balu: Caterina Galli (Alt )
• Cleopatra: Signora Casarini (soprano )
• Aspasia: Signora Sibilla (soprano )
• Ptolomee: Thomas Reinhold ( bass)