Athalia (HWV 52) is an English-language oratorio composed by George Frideric Handel to a libretto by Samuel Humphreys based on the play Athalie by Jean Racine. The work was commissioned in 1733 for the Publick Act in Oxford – a commencement ceremony of the University of Oxford, which had offered Handel an honorary doctorate (an honour he declined).[1] The story is based on that of the Biblical queen Athaliah. Athalia, Handel's third oratorio in English, was completed on 7 June 1733,[2] and first performed on 10 July 1733 at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford.[3] The Bee (14 July 1733) reported that the performance was "performed with the utmost Applause, and is esteemed equal to the most celebrated of that Gentleman's Performances: there were 3700 Persons present".[3]
Athaliah was first given in London on 1 April 1735 at Covent Garden Theatre.
| Role | Voice | 1733 Oxford cast | 1735 London cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athalia, Baalite Queen of Judah and Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel | soprano | Mrs. Wright | Cecilia Young |
| Josabeth, Wife of Joad | soprano | Anna Maria Strada | Anna Maria Strada |
| Joas, King of Judah | boy soprano | Master Goodwill | William Savage |
| Joad, High Priest | alto | Walter Powell | Giovanni Carestini |
| Mathan, Priest of Baal, formerly a Jewish Priest | tenor | Phillip Rochetti | John Beard |
| Abner, Captain of the Jewish Forces | bass | Gustavus Waltz | Gustavus Waltz |
| Chorus of Young Virgins | |||
| Chorus of Israelites | |||
| Chorus of Priests and Levites | |||
| Chorus of Attendants | |||
| Chorus of Sidonian Priests |
Athalia, daughter of King Ahab of Israel and Queen Jezebel, had been married to Jehoram, King of Judah. After her husband's death, Athalia was determined to stamp out the Jewish line of kings descended from David. She caused, so she believed, all the heirs to the throne to be murdered. She took the throne and ruled Judah herself, and began to devote the country to the idolatrous worship of Baal instead of the God of Israel. However, the child Joas, rightful heir to the throne, had been saved from death by Joad the High Priest and his wife Josabeth and raised as their own son under the name "Eliakim".[4]: 53
In the Temple during a religious festival, the Jewish people offer their prayers to God. The High Priest Joad laments Queen Athalia's blasphemy in seeking to force the worship of Baal. All join in prayers for deliverance from her tyrannous rule. At the Palace, the Queen is disturbed by a dream she has had of a young boy dressed as a Jewish priest plunging a dagger into her heart. The high priest of Baal, Mathan, calms her by saying it was only a dream and suggests she have the Temple searched. Abner, Captain of the Guards, loyal to the God of Israel, go to the Temple to warn of the upcoming search just as Joad the High Priest and his wife Josabeth are preparing to reveal to the nation that the boy "Eliakim" whom they have raised as their own son is in fact Joas, descendant of David and rightful King. Josabeth is alarmed and despondent at the news of the search but her husband tells her to trust in God.
The Jewish people in the Temple offer magnificent songs of praise to God. Athalia enters and is alarmed to see in "Eliakim" the very image of the child who stabbed her in her dream. She interrogates the boy and when he tells her he is an orphan she offers to adopt him, but he rejects with revulsion the idea of such close association with an idolator such as she. Athalia is enraged and departs, vowing that she will have the child regardless. Once again Josabeth, close to despair, is counseled by Joad to trust God. The chorus comment that the guilty are sure to be punished.
Joad, inspired by God, prophesies the downfall of Athalia. He and Josabeth explain to the boy ""Eliakim" that he is really Joas, rightful King, and crown him, to the acclaim of the people. Athalia enters, demanding that the boy be given to her, and when she learns that he has been crowned, orders the treason to be punished, but her soldiers have all deserted her. Even Mathan, High Priest of Baal, declares that the God of Israel has triumphed. Athalia knows she is doomed, but goes to her death declaring that she will seek vengeance even from the grave. All praise the rightful King and the true God.[4]: 67 [5]
The biblical story of Athalia, with its tale of deposing a usurping and tyrannous monarch, was used by supporters of the Jacobite cause as justification for restoring the Stuart monarchy. Oxford was then a centre of High church and Jacobite sentiment, which has caused the choice of subject for this oratorio by a supporter of the Hanoverian monarchy such as Handel to seem strange to some writers.[4]: 55 However the libretto by Samuel Humphreys alters Racine's original by placing great emphasis on removing "idolatry" from the land, clearly referring to removing Catholic influence, and is thus supportive of the Protestant Hanoverian monarchy.[4]: 72 The subject of the oratorio was most likely a conscious choice on Handel's part of a subject that would appeal to the Jacobite supporters in Oxford without being disloyal to his Hanoverian patrons.[4]: 73
The work is scored for strings, 2 recorders (or flutes), 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and continuo.[5] Athalia shows flexibility and originality in form on Handel's part, combining solos with chorus in new ways. Its vivid characterisation through music contributed to its immense success at its premiere.[6]
| Part | Scene | Type | Voice | Text (first lines) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinfonia (Allegro, Grave, Allegro) |
|||
| 1 | 1 | Aria | Josabeth | Blooming virgins, spotless train, tune to transport all your lays! ... |
| 1 | 1 | Chorus | Young Virgins | The rising world Jehovah crown'd with bright magnificence around! ... |
| 1 | 1 | Chorus | Israelites | O mortals, if around us here so wond'rous all His works appear, ... |
| 1 | 1 | Aria | Josabeth | Tyrants would in impious throngs silence His adorers' songs: but shall Salem's lyre and lute at their proud commands be mute? |
| 1 | 1 | Chorus | Israelites | Tyrants! Tyrants! Ye in vain conspire! Wake the lute and strike the lyre! |
| 1 | 1 | Recitative | Abner | When He is in his wrath reveal'd, where will the haughty lie conceal'd? |
| 1 | 1 | Aria | Abner | When storms the proud to terrors doom, He forms the dark majestic scene, He rolls the thunder through the gloom, and on the whirlwind rides serene. |
| 1 | 1 | Chorus | Israelites | Oh Judah, boast his matchless law, pronounc'd with such tremendous awe! ... |
| 1 | 2 | Recitative | Joad | Your sacred songs awhile forbear, our festival demands your care; and now no longer let your stay the due solemnities delay. |
| 1 | 2 | Accompagnato | Joad | O Judah, Judah! Chosen seed! To what distress art thou decreed! ... |
| 1 | 2 | Aria | Joad | O Lord, whom we adore, shall Judah rise no more? ... |
| 1 | 2 | Chorus | Israelites | Hear from thy mercy seat the groans thy tribes repeat, the sighs they breathe to thee, the groans, the sighs! |
| 1 | 3 | Aria | Athalia | What scenes of horror round me rise! I shake, I faint with dire surprise! Is sleep, that frees the wretch from woe, to Majesty alone a foe? |
| 1 | 3 | Recitative | Athalia | O Mathan, aid me to control the wild confusion of my soul! |
| 1 | 3 | Recitative | Mathan | Why shrinks that mighty soul with fear? What cares, what danger can be near? |
| 1 | 3 | Recitative | Athalia | Ev'n now, as I was sunk in deep repose, my mother's awful form before me rose; ... |
| 1 | 3 | Aria | Athalia | O Athalia, tremble at thy fate! For Judah's God pursues thee with his hate, ... |
| 1 | 3 | Chorus | Attendants and Sidonian Priests |
The gods, who chosen blessings shed on majesty's anointed head, ... |
| 1 | 3 | Recitative | Athalia | Her form at this began to fade, and seem'd dissolving into shade. ... |
| 1 | 3 | Chorus | Attendants and Sidonian Priests |
Cheer her, O Baal, with a soft serene, and in thy votary protect the queen! |
| 1 | 3 | Recitative | Athalia | Amidst these horrors, that my soul dismay'd, a youth I saw in shining robes array'd, ... |
| 1 | 3 | Recitative | Mathan | Great queen, be calm! These fears I deem the birth of a delusive dream. ... |
| 1 | 3 | Aria | Mathan | Gentle airs, melodious strains! Call for raptures out of woe, lull the regal mourner's pains, sweetly soothe her as you flow. |
| 1 | 3 | Aria | Athalia | Softest sounds no more can ease me, heav'n a weight of woe decrees me, horrors all my hopes destroy. ... |
| 1 | 3 | Recitative | Mathan | Swift to the temple let us fly, to know what mansion hides this youthful foe. |
| 1 | 3 | Recitative | Abner | I'll haste the pontiff to prepare for this black storm of wild despair. |
| 1 | 3 | Chorus | Attendants | The traitor if you there descry, oh let him by the altar die. |
| 1 | 4 | Recitative | Joad | My Josabeth! The grateful time appears to bid dejected Judah end her fears. |
| 1 | 4 | Recitative | Josabeth | Oh tell the people, as I oft have crav'd, how I from death the royal infant sav'd. |
| 1 | 4 | Recitative | Abner | Priest of the living God! With anxious heart proud Athalia's purpose I impart: ... |
| 1 | 4 | Recitative | Josabeth | Oh killing shock of unexpected pain! Oh innocence, my tender care in vain! ... |
| 1 | 4 | Aria | Josabeth | Faithful cares in vain extended, lovely hopes for ever ended, beamy dawn of joy farewell! ... |
| 1 | 4 | Recitative | Abner | O cease, fair princess, to indulge your woe; no mortal to your son can prove a foe. |
| 1 | 4 | Recitative | Joad | This grief, oh Josabeth, degrades your soul; can God no longer Judah's foe control? ... |
| 1 | 4 | Aria | Joad | Gloomy tyrants, we disdain all the terror you intend, all your fury will be vain, and in low confusion end! |
| 1 | 4 | Chorus | Israelites | Alleluja! |
| 2 | 1 | Chorus | Priests, Levites, Israelites and Joad |
The mighty pow'r in whom we trust, is ever to His promise just; He makes this sacred day appear, the pledge of a propitious year. |
| 2 | 1 | Aria | Joad | He bids the circling season shine, recalls the olive and the wine, with blooming plenty loads the plain, and crowns the fields with golden grain. |
| 2 | 1 | chorus | Priests, Levites, and Israelites |
Give glory to His awful name, let ev'ry voice His praise proclaim! |
| 2 | 1 | Aria | Josabeth | Through the land so lovely blooming, nature all her charms assuming, wakes the soul to cheerful praise. ... |
| 2 | 1 | Recitative | Abner | Ah! Were this land from proud oppression freed, Judea would be bless'd indeed! |
| 2 | 1 | Recitative | Joad | Oh Abner, wer't thou certain that the sword had not destroy'd the race by thee deplor'd, ... |
| 2 | 1 | Aria | Abner | Ah, canst thou but prove me! To vengeance I spring. ... |
| 2 | 1 | Recitative | Joad | Thou dost the ardour that I wish display; revisit me before the close of day. ... |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Athalia | Confusion to my thoughts! My eyes have view'd my dreadful vision in the place renew'd! Through all my veins the chilling horrors run. Say, Josabeth, is this fair youth thy son? |
| 2 | 2 | Josabeth | Though much he merits my fond love, yet he is not indebted for his birth to me. | |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Athalia | Who is thy father? Let his name be known! |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Josabeth | He has no father but kind heav'n alone. |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Athalia | Why so officious does thy zeal appear? I mean the answer from his lips to hear. How art thou call'd? |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Joas | Eliakim |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Athalia | Unfold thy father's name! |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Joas | In me, alas, behold an orphan, cast by providence, and ne'er as yet acquainted who his parents were. |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Athalia | Give me to understand whose tender cares sustain'd and rear'd thee in thy infant years? |
| 2 | 2 | Aria | Joas | Will God, whose mercies ever flow, expose his children's youth to woe? ... |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Athalia | 'Tis my intention, lovely youth, that you a scene more suited to your worth shall view: ... |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Joas | Shall I behold the God by whom I'm bless'd profan'd by you with rites that I detest? |
| 2 | 2 | Recitative | Athalia | Princess, in discipline you much excel; whate'er you dictate he remembers well. ... |
| 2 | 2 | Aria | Athalia | My vengeance awakes me, compassion forsakes me, all softness and mercy away! My foes with confusion shall find their illusion and tremble before me today! |
| 2 | 2 | Duet | Josabeth | My spirits fail, I faint, I die! |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Joas | Ah, why? |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Josabeth | The grave shall hide my head! |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Joas | Is hope for ever fled? |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Josabeth | My grief's too great to bear, I faint, I die - |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Joas | Ah, why? |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Josabeth | I faint, I die! |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Joas | Is hope for ever fled? |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Josabeth | The grave shall hide my head! |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Joas | Kind heav'n will defend me - |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Josabeth | Thy ardours affect me - |
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Joas | He sure will protect me: Is hope for ever fled? For ever fled? |
| Andante | ||||
| 2 | 2 | Duet (continued) | Josabeth | Whate'er this tyrant may decree, oh God, I place my trust in thee! |
| 2 | 2 | Aria | Joas | In Jehovah's awful sight, haughty tyrants are but dust. Those, who glory in their might, place in vanity their trust. |
| 2 | 3 | Recitative | Joad | Dear Josabeth, I trembled whilst thy woe did in its first emotions wildly flow; ... |
| 2 | 3 | Duet | Joad | Cease thy anguish, smile once more, let thy tears no longer flow! ... |
| 2 | 3 | Duet (continued) | Josabeth | All his mercies I review, gladly, with a grateful heart, and I trust He will renew blessings he did once impart. |
| 2 | 3 | Duet (continued) | Joad and Josabeth | Whate'er this tyrant may decree, returning joys we soon shall see. |
| 2 | 3 | Recitative | Abner | Joad, ere day has ended half his race, again expect me in this sacred place. |
| 2 | 3 | Chorus | Young Virgins | The clouded scene begins to clear, and joys in gentle trains appear. |
| 2 | 3 | Chorus | Priests and Levites | When crimes aloud for vengeance call, the guilty will be doomed to fall. |
| 2 | 3 | Chorus | Israelites | Rejoice, oh Judah, in thy God! The proud alone shall feel His rod, whilst blessings with a mild decree, His mercy now prepares for thee. |
| 3 | 1 | Aria | Joad | What sacred horrors shake my breast! Ah! 'Tis the pow'r divine confess'd! ... |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus | Virgins, Priests and Levites |
Unfold, great seer, what heav'n imparts, and speak glad tidings to our hearts! |
| 3 | 1 | Accompagnato | Joad | Let harmony breathe soft around, and aid my raptures with the sound! |
| 3 | 1 | Aria | Joad | Jerusalem, thou shalt no more a tyrant's guilty reign deplore; ... |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus | Virgins, Priests and Levites |
Oh shining mercy! |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus (continued) | Joad | Heav'n itself will now relieve me! |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus (continued) | Virgins, Priests and Levites |
Oh shining mercy! |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus (continued) | Joad | See, she falls.. |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus (continued) | Virgins, Priests and Levites |
Gracious pow'r.. |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus (continued) | Joad | ..she bleeds.. |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus (continued) | Virgins, Priests and Levites |
..gracious pow'r.. |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus (continued) | Joad | ..she dies! |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus (continued) | Virgins, Priests and Levites |
..oh shining mercy, gracious pow'r, that aids us in the needful hour! |
| 3 | 1 | Recitative | Joad | Eliakim! |
| 3 | 1 | Recitative | Joas | My father! |
| 3 | 1 | Recitative | Joad | Let me know: Should heav'n on thee a diadem bestow, what reign of Judah's kings wouldst thou that day choose for the model of thy future sway? |
| 3 | 1 | Recitative | Joas | Should God such glory for my lot ordain, like righteous David I would wish to reign. |
| 3 | 1 | Recitative | Joad | Oh, Joas! Oh, my king! Thus low to thee I pay the homage of my bended knee! |
| 3 | 1 | Recitative | Joas | Is this reality or kind deceit? Ah, can I see my father at my feet? |
| 3 | 1 | Recitative | Josabeth | Ye sacred bands, who serve the God of truth, Revere your sov'reign in that royal youth! |
| 3 | 1 | Chorus | Virgins, Priests and Levites |
With firm united hearts, we all will conquer in his cause, or fall. |
| 3 | 2 | Recitative | Mathan | Oh princess, I approach thee to declare how much thy welfare is my care. |
| 3 | 2 | Recitative | Josabeth | What means, proud Mathan, thy intrusion here? Has heav'n no vengeance for thy crimes to fear? |
| 3 | 2 | Recitative | Mathan | Fair Josabeth, though you insult me so, trust me, in Mathan you behold no foe! |
| 3 | 2 | Aria | Josabeth | Soothing tyrant, falsely smiling! Virtue's foes I ne'er shall fear; ... |
| 3 | 3 | Recitative | Joad | Apostate priest! How canst thou dare to violate this house of pray'r? |
| 3 | 3 | Recitative | Mathan | Joad, I scorn thy proud insulting mien; prepare to answer thy offended queen! |
| 3 | 4 | Recitative | Athalia | Oh bold seduce, art thou there? Where is the youth, inform me, where? |
| 3 | 4 | Recitative | Joad | Ye priests, the youth before her bring! Proud woman, there, behold our king! |
| 3 | 4 | Chorus | Young Virgins, Priests and Levites |
Around let acclamations ring: Hail, royal youth! Long live the king! |
| 3 | 4 | Aria | Joad | Reviving Judah shall no more detested images adore; ... |
| 3 | 4 | Chorus | Young Virgins, Priests and Levites |
Bless the true church, and save the king! |
| 3 | 4 | Recitative | Athalia | Oh, treason, treason! Impious scene! Abner, avenge thy injur'd queen! |
| 3 | 4 | Recitative | Joad | Great chief, behold thy royal Joas there, preserv'd by Josabeth's successful care! Thy dauntless loyalty of soul I know; thou canst not be to David's race a foe. |
| 3 | 4 | Recitative | Abner | Does heav'n this blessing then at last accord? Oh royal Joas, oh my honour'd Lord! |
| 3 | 4 | Aria | Abner | Oppression, no longer I dread thee, thy terrors, proud queen, I despise! They crimes to confusion have led thee, and Judah triumphant shall rise! |
| 3 | 4 | Recitative | Athalia | Where am I? Furies, wild despair! Where are my guards, my vassals, where? Mathan, invoke thy God to shed his vengeance on each rebel's head! |
| 3 | 4 | Recitative | Mathan | He hears no more! Our hopes are past! The Hebrew's God prevails at last! Alas, alas! My broken vow! His dreadful hand is on me now! |
| 3 | 4 | Aria | Mathan | Hark! Hark! Hark! His thunders round me roll, His angry awful frowns I see, ... |
| 3 | 4 | Recitative | Joad | Yes, proud apostate, thou shalt fall, they crimes aloud for vengeance call! |
| 3 | 4 | Recitative | Athalia | I see all hopes, all succours fail, and Judah's God will now prevail; ... |
| 3 | 4 | Aria | Athalia | To darkness eternal and horrors infernal undaunted I'll hasten away. Oh tyrants, your treason shall in the due season weep blood for this barbarous day! |
| 3 | 5 | Recitative | Joad | Now, Josabeth, thy fears are o'er! |
| 3 | 5 | Recitative | Josabeth | Bless'd be His name whom we adore! |
| 3 | 5 | Duet | Joad | Joys, in gentle trains appearing, Heav'n does to my fair impart; and, to make them more endearing, I shall share them with thy heart! |
| 3 | 5 | Duet (continued) | Josabeth | Softest joys would be deceive me, hadst thou they happy part; oh my dearest Lord, believe me, thou shalt share them with my heart. |
| 3 | 5 | Duet (continued) | Joad | I shall share them with thy heart! |
| 3 | 5 | Duet (continued) | Josabeth | Thou shalt share them with my heart! |
| 3 | 5 | Duet (continued) | Joad and Josabeth | And to make them more endearing I shall/thou shalt share them with thy/my heart! |
| 3 | 5 | Recitative | Abner | Rejoice, oh Judah, this triumphant day! Let all the goodness of our God display; whose mercies to the wond'ring world declare; His chosen people are His chosen care! |
| 3 | 5 | Chorus | Young Virgins, Priests, Levites and Israelites |
Give the glory to His awful name, let ev'ry voice His praise proclaim! |
| Year | Cast:Athalia, Josabeth, Joad, Joas, Mathan, Abner |
Conductor, orchestra and chorus |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Joan Sutherland, Emma Kirkby, James Bowman, Aled Jones, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, David Thomas |
Christopher Hogwood Academy of Ancient Music and Choir of New College, Oxford |
CD:Decca Cat:475 6731 dc8 |
| 1998 | Elisabeth Scholl, Barbara Schlick, Annette Reinhold, Friederike Holzhausen, Markus Brutscher, Stephan McLeod |
Joachim Carlos Martini Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra and Junge Kantorei |
CD:Naxos Cat:8.554364-65 |
| 2005 | Simone Kermes, Olga Pasichnyk, Martin Oro, Trine Wilsberg Lund, Thomas Cooley, Wolf Matthias Friedrich |
Peter Neumann Collegium Cartusianum and Kölner Kammerchor |
CD:MDG Cat:332 1276-2 |
| 2010 | Geraldine McGreevy, Nuria Rial, Lawrence Zazzo, Aaron Mächler, Charles Daniels, David Wilson-Johnson |
Paul Goodwin Kammerorchester Basel and Vocalconsort Berlin |
CD:Deutsche HM Cat:88697723172 |
