|
Transcendental Dawn
Handel's 'Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno'
impresses GIUSEPPE PENNISI
When young George Frideric Handel made Rome his main base in 1707-08, public performances of operas were banned by Papal decree, but the Saxon composer had ample opportunity to write cantatas and oratorios, forms closely related to opera. One of his patrons was Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili who enjoyed a good status as a poet and wrote several texts for Handel. One of these is Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno ('The Triumph of Time and Enlightenment — over Beauty and Pleasure'). It was performed successfully in the Pamphili Palace, most likely for a musical evening after a banquet...
Copyright © 9 February 2016
Giuseppe Pennisi,
Rome, Italy
|
