Joseph and his Brethren

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Work data
Title: Joseph and his brothers
Original title: Joseph and his Brethren
Title page of the libretto, London 1744

Title page of the libretto, London 1744

Shape: Oratorio
Original language: English
Music: georg Friedrich Handel
Libretto : James Miller
Literary source: Genesis and Apostolo Zeno
Premiere: March 2, 1744
Place of premiere: Theater Royal, Covent Garden , London
Playing time: approx. 2 ½ hours
Place and time of the action: Egypt , biblical time
people

Joseph and his Brethren ( HWV 59, German : Joseph und seine Brüder ) is an oratorio in three acts by Georg Friedrich Händel ( music ) with a libretto by James Miller . It was written in the summer of 1743 and premiered on March 2, 1744 under Handel's direction at the Theater Royal, Covent Garden , London .

action

The plot is based on the biblical story from Genesis , the first book of Moses. It is about Joseph , the son of the patriarch Jacob , who was enslaved by his eleven brothers and sold to Egypt. The brothers told his father that Joseph was killed by a predator. In Egypt, Joseph was treated well by his master Potiphar , but was later sued out of jealousy and thrown into prison. He was then appointed governor by the Pharaoh because of his successful interpretations of dreams, through which he saved the country from a famine , and took mild retribution on his brothers.

first act

After the four-part overture, Joseph laments his fate in the Egyptian prison. Phanor, his former dungeon mate and current servant of Pharaoh visits him. A few years earlier Joseph had correctly interpreted a dream for him. Phanor had told Pharaoh about it and is now on his behalf to ask Joseph for an interpretation of one of Pharaoh's dreams. Joseph is released from prison and taken to Pharaoh. He interprets the dream of the seven full and seven lean cows as a prophecy for seven years of good harvest and seven years of famine. He advises Pharaoh to stock up on supplies during the first few years and to hire a wise man to do so. Pharaoh is impressed, appoints Joseph as governor and gives him the ambiguous honorary title of Zaphnath-Paaneah . Joseph is called Zaphnath in the further course of the oratorio .

In the meantime Asenath , the daughter of the High Priest Potiphera , has fallen in love with Joseph. Her feelings are reciprocated by Joseph, and he successfully solicits her father and Pharaoh for her hand. The first act ends with the wedding and a parade march.

Intermediate plot before the second act

The events between the first and the second act are not told in the oratorio. The country has gathered enough supplies for the seven years of famine and is visited by strangers who want to buy grain there. Among them are Joseph's brothers who no longer recognize him after all these years. Joseph, on the other hand, recognized them very well. In order to carry out his retaliation, he accuses her of espionage and orders that the youngest brother Benjamin , who has not traveled with him, be brought to him. Simeon , another brother, is said to remain with him as a hostage in the meantime.

Second act

A year later, the Egyptians cheer Joseph, who defused the famine. Phanor and Asenath also join in and also praise his modesty. You've also noticed that he seems troubled about something, and you're wondering why. In prison, however, Simeon is still waiting for his brothers to return. He now regrets what they did to their brother Joseph. Joseph has him brought to him. While he waits, he remembers his old home in Hebron and longs for his father Jacob. When Simeon is brought in, he accuses this of deceiving because his brothers have not yet returned. When asked about his family, Simeon recounts that his brother Joseph was eaten by a predator. Joseph accuses him of lying. Because of his ability to say wisdom, Simeon could not hide the truth from him.

In the next scene, Joseph's wife Asenath asks him why he is suffering. Joseph answers evasively. The conversation is interrupted by Phanor, who announces the arrival of his brothers. The youngest brother Benjamin is also there. Phanor greets the brothers and reassures them that they have since been found innocent. Then Joseph joins them. The brothers still do not recognize him and ask him for help for their country, also on behalf of their father. Joseph gives Benjamin a warm welcome and calls him his son. Benjamin is amazed. He also notes the resemblance between Joseph and her father Jacob. Joseph invites the brothers to eat together. The second act ends with a prayer from the brothers.

Intermediate act before the third act

The events before the beginning of the third act are again not directly reported in the libretto of the oratorio. Joseph had a silver goblet hidden in Benjamin's luggage. Immediately after their departure, the brothers were arrested by his people and charged with theft.

Third act

Asenath and Phanor talk about the ingratitude of the strangers who thanked Joseph for generosity with a theft. Joseph joins them and is asked again by them about the reason for his sadness. Asenath suspects that he might be jealous and assures him that there is no need to be. Joseph says no. The real reason is his concern about the effects of the famine on his father and family. Despite all his might, he could not distribute Egypt's supplies at will. Asenath offers to personally ask the king that his family can move to Egypt. Phanor brings Joseph's chained brothers and accuses them of stealing the holy cup. This is found between Joseph's farewell gifts in Benjamin's sack. Despite all the protests of innocence, Benjamin is arrested and thrown in prison. The brothers continue to ask Joseph for mercy and compassion. Simeon finally offers to take Benjamin's punishment on himself in order not to have to expose her father to the news of Benjamin's death. In the end, Joseph was so impressed by this solidarity that he revealed himself to his brothers. They passed his test and did not betray Benjamin as well. After everything has been forgiven, Asenath comes and brings a message from Pharaoh: Joseph's father and his family are allowed to settle in Egypt. The oratorio ends with a love duet by Asenath and Joseph and an "Alleluia" chorus.

layout

The librettist James Miller used the oratorio Giuseppe by Apostolo Zeno (1722, set to music by Antonio Caldara ) as a template for the second and third parts , which in turn is based on the play Joseph von Abbé Genest (1711). It is an almost literal translation. The first part, on the other hand, is a new poetry by Miller. He plays a few years before the second and third parts. The events between the first and second part and the background to the plot are not sufficiently explained in the libretto itself. It is assumed that the listener is familiar with the biblical material. In the original textbook from 1744 there was a so-called advertisement from Miller with the necessary information.

Handel wrote the work for a subscription concert series to be performed in the Covent Garden Theater during Lent 1744. As a final chorus he used the alleluja of his Dettinger Anthem (HWV 265). He also used motifs from Alessandro Stradella's Serenata Qual prodigio and from Francesco Gasparini's opera Il Bajazet .

In addition to the string ensemble with basso continuo , the line-up includes two flutes, two oboes, bassoon, three trumpets and timpani.

In addition to the original score, four other versions from 1744, 1747, 1751 and 1757 have survived, each with minor deviations, which differ mainly in the pitch of the individual parts.

The British musicologist Winton Dean thought the work had failed. This view is not shared by other scientists. It relates more to the libretto than to Handel's music.

Performance history and discography

At the premiere on March 2, 1744, the countertenor Daniel Sullivan (Joseph), Elisabeth Duparc called la Francesina (Asenath), John Beard (Simeon and Judah), Henry Theodore Reinhold (Pharaoh and Reuben), Esther Young (Phanor) and The sang Boy (presumably Samuel Champness, Benjamin). It became a success. A month later, Handel's admirer, Mary Delany , asked him to improvise on oratorio themes at dinner.

It was performed nine more times in Handel's time after its premiere, namely on March 7, 9 and 14, 1744 at the Covent Garden Theater, on March 15 and 22, 1745 at the King's Theater, and on March 20 and 25, 1747 , on February 28, 1755 and again on March 9, 1757 at the Covent Garden Theater.

The work was rarely performed in the 19th century, and even today it is one of Handel's seldom performed oratorios.

In 1996 a CD was released (Hyperion 67171/73) with The Choir of New College, Oxford , The Choir of The King's Consort , The King's Consort under the direction of Robert King . The singers were Yvonne Kenny (Asenath), James Bowman (Joseph), Catherine Denley (Phanor), Michael George (Pharaoh, Reuben), Connor Borrowes (Benjamin), John Mark Ainsley (Simeon, Judah) and William Missin (high priest).

literature

Web links

Commons : Joseph and his Brethren (Handel)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Robert King : Supplement to CD Handel. Joseph and his brethren , Hyperion 67171/73, 1996.
  2. ↑ Mrs Delany: Autobiography and Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs. Delany , first edition 1861, Cambridge University Press 2011, ISBN 978-1-108-03835-5 , p. 290 ( online at Google Books).