Italian cantata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo by George Frideric Handel

E644588

The Italian cantata *Aci, Galatea e Polifemo* by George Frideric Handel is a dramatic secular vocal work composed in 1708 that retells the mythological love story of Acis and Galatea threatened by the cyclops Polyphemus, showcasing Handel’s early mastery of expressive arias and vivid characterisation.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf dramatic cantata
secular vocal work
serenata
basedOn myth of Acis and Galatea
linked to: Acis and Galatea
catalogueNumber HWV 72
commissionedBy Duke of Alvito
composer George Frideric Handel
compositionYear 1708
countryOfOrigin Italy
dramaticType serenata in concerto style
featuresCharacter Aci
Galatea
Polifemo
linked to: Polyphemus
featuresVoiceType alto
bass
soprano
firstPerformanceYear 1708
genre cantata
serenata
hasForm sequence of recitatives and arias
hasMythologicalSource Ovid’s Metamorphoses
historicalContext composed during Handel’s Italian sojourn
influencedBy Italian opera tradition
language Italian
librettoLanguage Italian
narrativeConflict love of Aci and Galatea threatened by Polifemo
narrativeTheme mythological love story
notableAriaFor Polifemo (bass)
linked to: Polyphemus
notableFeature expressive arias
vivid characterisation
occasion wedding celebrations of the Duke of Alvito
orchestration Baroque orchestra
period Baroque
placeInCareer early work of Handel
placeOfFirstPerformance Naples
premiereCity Naples
relatedWorkByComposer Acis and Galatea (HWV 49)
setting Sicily
sharesSubjectWith Handel’s Acis and Galatea (English pastoral work)
shows Handel’s early mastery of dramatic writing
structure three-part serenata
style Italian Baroque
subject unrequited love and jealousy
textType secular
vocalForces solo voices and orchestra
workTitleInEnglish Acis, Galatea and Polyphemus
linked to: Acis and Galatea

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

collaboration with George Frideric Handel relatedWork Italian cantata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo by George Frideric Handel
Aci, Galatea e Polifemo sharesSubjectWith Handel’s Acis and Galatea (English pastoral work)
linked to: Italian cantata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo by George Frideric Handel
Galatea (sea nymph) relatedWork Handel's pastoral opera "Acis and Galatea"
linked to: Italian cantata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo by George Frideric Handel