Saul, HWV 53
George Frideric Händel, 1685∼1759
1738년 작곡하여 1739년 1월 런던왕립음악원에서 초연되었다. 대본은 《구약성서》의 〈사무엘서〉 상하편을 토대로 해서 쓴 C.제넨스(Charles Jennens)가 썼다. 헨델의 극 가운데 가장 강렬한 것으로 평가된다. 특히 기악 파트를 교묘히 처리하여 사울의 교만함과 욕망, 질투심, 권력욕 등을 잘 표현하였다.
훗날 헨델의 대작 오라토리오로 큰 인기를 끈 《메시아 Messiah》(1741)와 《예프타 Jephtah》(1752)의 작품성에는 미치지 못하지만, 헨델 자신의 신앙심과 윤리적 신념 등이 잘 반영되어 있고 심금을 울리는 대사와 극적 긴장감, 감동적인 곡의 흐름이 인상적인 작품이다.
1. Symphony - Allegro
2. Symphony - Larghetto
3. Symphony - Allegro
4. Symphony - Andante Larghetto
5. Act One - 1. 'How Excellent Thy Name O Lord' Chorus
6. Act One - 2. Air 'An Infant Raised' Soprano 3. Trio 'Along The Monster Atheist Strode' Countertenor Tenor Bass
7. Act One - 4. 'The Youth Inspired By Thee O Lord' Chorus
8. Act One - 5. 'How Excellent Thy Name O Lord' Chorus
9. Act One - 6. Recitative 'He Comes' Michal 7. Air 'O God-Like Youth' Michal
10. Act One - 8. Recitative 'Behold O King The Brave Victorious Youth' Abner Saul David
11. Act One - 9. Air 'O King Your Favours With Delight' David 10. Recitative 'Oh Early Piety' Jonathan
12. Act One - 11. Air 'What Abject Thoughts' Merab 12. Recitative 'Yet Think On Whom This Honour' Merab
13. Act One - 13. Air 'Birth And Fortune I Despise' Jonathan
14. Act One - 14. Recitative 'Go On Illustrious Pair' High Priest 15. Air 'While Yet Thy Tide Of Blood' High Priest
15. Act One - 16. Recitative 'Thou Merab First In Birth' Saul Merab 17. Air 'My Soul Rejects' Merab 18. Air 'See With What A Scornful Air' Michal 19. Air 'Ah Lovely Youth' Michal
16. Act One - 20. Symphony 21. Recitative 'Already See The Daughters' Michal 22. 'Welcome Welcome Mighty King' Chorus
17. Act One - 23. Accompagnato 'What Do I Hear? ' Saul 24. 'David His Ten Thousands Slew' Chorus 25. Accompagnato 'To Him Ten Thousands' Saul
18. Act One - 26. Air 'With Rage I Shall Burst' Saul
19. Act One - 27. Recitative 'Imprudent Women' Jonathan Michal
20. Act One - 28. Air 'Fell Rage And Black Despair Possessed' Michal
21. Act One - 29. Recitative 'This But The Smallest Part Of Harmony' High Priest 30. Accompagnato 'By Thee This Universal Frame' High Priest
22. Act One - 31. Recitative 'Racked With Infernal Pains' Abner
23. Act One - 32. Air 'O Lord Whose Mercies Numberless' David 33. Symphony
24. Act One - 34. Recitative ''Tis All In Vain' Jonathan 35. Air 'A Serpent In My Bosom Warmed' 36. Recitative 'Has He Escaped My Rage? ' Saul
25. Act One - 37. Air 'Capricious Man' Merab
26. Act One - 38. Accompagnato 'O Filial Piety' Jonathan
27. Act One - 39. Air 'No Cruel Father No' Jonathan
28. Act One - 40. Air 'O Lord Whose Providence' High Priest
29. Act One - 41. 'Preserve Him For The Glory' Chorus
30. [Applause]
31. Act Two - 42. 'Envy Eldest Born Of Hell' Chorus
32. Act Two - 43. Recitative 'Ah Dearest Friend' Jonathan
33. Act Two - 44. Air 'But Sooner Jordan's Stream' Jonathan
34. Act Two - 45. Recitative 'O Strange Vicissitude' David Jonathan
35. Act Two - 46. Air 'Such Haughty Beauties' David
36. Act Two - 47. Recitative 'My Father Comes' Jonathan 48. Recitative 'Hast Thou Obeyed My Orders' Saul Jonathan
37. Act Two - 49. Air 'Sin Not O King' Jonathan
38. Act Two - 50. Air 'As Great Jehovah Lives' Saul
39. Act Two - 51. Air 'From Cities Stormed' Jonathan
40. Act Two - 52. Recitative 'Appear My Friend' Jonathan
41. Act Two - 53. Air 'Your Words O King' David 54. Recitative 'Yes He Shall Wed My Daughter' Saul
42. Act Two - 55. Recitative 'A Father's Will' Michal
43. Act Two - 56. Duet 'O Fairest Of Ten Thousand Fair' Michal David 57. 'Is There A Man' Chorus
44. Act Two - 58. Symphony
45. Act Two - 59. Recitative 'Thy Father Is As Cruel' David
46. Act Two - 60. Duet 'At Persecution I Can Laugh' David Michal
47. Act Two - 61. Recitative 'Whom Dost Thou Seek? ' Michal Doeg
48. Act Two - 62. Air 'No No Let The Guilty Tremble' Michal
49. Act Two - 63. Recitative 'Mean As He Was' Merab
50. Act Two - 64. Air 'Author Of Peace' Merab
51. Act Two - 65. Symphony
52. Act Two - 66. Accompagnato 'The Time At Length Is Come' Saul 67. Recitative 'Where Is The Son Of Jesse? ' Saul Jonathan
53. Act Two - 68. 'O Fatal Consequence' Chorus
54. Act Three - 69. Accompagnato Wretch That I Am Saul 70. Accompagnato
55. Act Three - 72. Air Infernal Spirits Witch
56. Act Three - 73. Accompagnato Why Hast Thou Forced Me Samuel Saul
57. Act Three - 74. Symphony
58. Act Three - 75. Recitative Whence Comest Thou David Amalekite 76. Air Impious Wretch David
59. Act Three - 77. Dead March
60. Act Three - 78. Mourn Israel Chorus
61. Act Three - 79. Air Oh Let It Not In Gath Be Heard High Priest
62. Act Three - 80. Air From This Unhappy Day Merab
63. Act Three - 81. Air Brave Jonathan His Bow Never Drew David
64. Act Three - 82. Eagles Were Not So Swift As They Chorus
65. Act Three - 83. Air In Sweetest Harmony Michal
66. Act Three - 84. O Fatal Day David Chorus
67. Act Three - 85. Recitative Ye Men Of Judah Weep No More High Priest
68. Act Three - 86. Gird On Thy Sword Chorus
69. [Applause]