Amadigi di Gaula

Handel composed Amadigi in 1715 for Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, during his stay at Burlington House. The identity of the librettist is not known for certain. Previous consensus had been that John Jacob Heidegger, who signed the dedication to Richard Boyle was the author, but more recent research has indicated that the librettist was more likely to be Giacomo Rossi, with Nicola Francesco Haym as a more probable candidate. The original manuscript of Amadigi has disappeared, along with ballet sections in the music. Only one edition of the libretto is known, dating from 1715. Two published editions of the opera exist, the Händelgesellschaft edition of 1874, and the first critical edition, by J. Merrill Knapp, which Bärenreiter published in 1971. Dean has examined the history of various manuscripts which contain alternative selections for the score. Following this work, Handel composed no operas for five years. Amadigi di Gaula was premiered in London at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket on 25 May 1715. Exceptional care was lavished on the production, which was a success. The King attended several performances. The opera received a known minimum of 17 further performances in London until 1717. In act 2, Amadigi addresses the Fountain of True Love in a long cavatina of the utmost sensuous beauty. This scene was famous originally for its spectacular effects. The "coup de théâtre" was the use of a real fountain spraying real water. The scene employed a large number of st…

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