Oreste HWV A/11

In 1734 Handel provided the pasticcio “ Oreste ” for his third operatic enterprise which, following the bankruptcy of the Royal Academy and its successor academy, felt threatened by competition from the newly-founded Opera of the Nobility. Hence, the composer did not compile the work from favourite movements from his own and other composer's pieces as was usual at that time; rather in “ Oreste ” he presented a selection of the most beautiful arias and ensembles exclusively from his own operas. In addition, he expanded the ballet and choral scenes which he thought would make a great impact after the move into the newly built Covent Garden Theatre.
As most of the singers in his Italian company had been enticed away by the competition, Handel increasingly began to engage English virtuosi. He probably even worked on the new version of the libretto himself in order to place the new stars in the limelight to the best effect.

The new vocal score is based on Volume 1 of the Supplement to Series II of the “Halle Handel” Edition edited by Bernd Baselt .