George Frideric Handel by Balthasar Denner

Aci, Galatea e Polifemo ( HWV 72) is a dramatic

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning o ...

—also called a

serenata In music, a serenade (; also sometimes called a serenata, from the Italian) is a musical composition or performance delivered in honor of someone or something. Serenades are typically calm, light pieces of music. The term comes from the Italia ...

—by

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

. It was first performed at

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adm ...

on 19 July 1708; the completed score is dated to 16 June 1708. The serenata was commissioned by Duchess Donna

Aurora Sanseverino Aurora Sanseverino (28 April 1669 – 2 July 1726) was an Italian noblewoman, salon-holder, patron and poet. One of the most celebrated women in the highest rank of the Neapolitan aristocracy, she was known for her great cultural activity as a patr ...

for the wedding festivities of the Duke of Alvito, Tolomeo Saverio Gallo, and Beatrice Tocco di Montemiletto, Princess of Acaja and niece of Aurora Sanseverino.Hawks 2019 The

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major li ...

was written by Nicola Giuvo, private secretary and literary adviser of Duchess Sanseverino. The plot is virtually the same as in Handel's later English-language pastoral opera '' Acis and Galatea'', but Handel drew little on the music of the cantata when he returned to the story in 1718, although he did take care to introduce the half-lovable villain — the one-eyed giant Polyphemus — with another signature comic aria, faster and demanding virtuosity of a different kind than the one in ''Aci'' (see below), namely, "O ruddier than the cherry." The role of Polifemo (

Polyphemus Polyphemus (; grc-gre, Πολύφημος, Polyphēmos, ; la, Polyphēmus ) is the one-eyed giant son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology, one of the Cyclopes described in Homer's ''Odyssey''. His name means "abounding in songs and ...

), a

cyclops In Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, the Cyclopes ( ; el, Κύκλωπες, ''Kýklōpes'', "Circle-eyes" or "Round-eyes"; singular Cyclops ; , ''Kýklōps'') are giant one-eyed creatures. Three groups of Cyclopes can be distinguish ...

whose actions have lethal consequences for Aci ( Acis), is particularly notable for the vast range and singular vocal agility required. The part ranges from the D below the bass staff to the A above it — and that in his main satirical slow, ponderous buffa aria, "Fra l'ombre e gl'orrori". The role may have been taken at the premiere by the

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

Antonio Manna, who sang at the court chapel in Vienna.

References

Notes Sources *Hawkes, Katy (2019). "Programme Note" in programme to ''Aci, Galatea e Polifemo HWV72'',

Wigmore Hall Wigmore Hall is a concert hall located at 36 Wigmore Street, London. Originally called Bechstein Hall, it specialises in performances of chamber music, early music, vocal music and song recitals. It is widely regarded as one of the world's leadi ...

, London, 3 April 2019. *Hogwood, Christopher. ''Handel'' (1988), Thames and Hudson, .

External links

*
Score
of ''Aci, Galatea e Polifemo'' (ed.

Friedrich Chrysander Karl Franz Friedrich Chrysander (8 July 1826 – 3 September 1901) was a German music historian, critic and publisher, whose edition of the works of George Frideric Handel and authoritative writings on many other composers established him as a ...

, Leipzig 1892)
Libretto from www.haendel.it
{{Authority control Cantatas by George Frideric Handel 1708 compositions 1708 cantatas Operas based on Metamorphoses