Belshazzar (Handel)
Belshazzar is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. The libretto was by Charles Jennens, and Handel abridged it considerably. Jennens' libretto was based on the Biblical account of the fall of Babylon at the hands of Cyrus the Great and the subsequent freeing of the Jewish nation, as found in the Book of Daniel.
Handel composed Belshazzar in the late Summer of 1744 concurrently with Hercules, during a time that Winton Dean calls "the peak of Handel's creative life". The work premiered the following Lenten season on 27 March 1745 at the King's Theatre, London. The work fell into neglect after Handel's death, with revivals of the work occurring in the United Kingdom in 1847, 1848 and 1873. With the revival of interest in Baroque music and historically informed musical performance since the 1960s, Belsahzzar receives performances in concert form today and is also sometimes fully staged as an opera. Among other performances, Belshazzar was staged at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in 2008 and by the Zurich Opera in 2019.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 27 March 1745 |
| Belshazzar, King of Babylon | tenor | John Beard |
| Nitocris, mother of Belshazzar | soprano | Elisabeth Duparc |
| Cyrus, Prince of Persia | mezzo-soprano | Anastasia Robinson |
| Gobrias, an Assyrian Nobleman, revolted to Cyrus | bass | Thomas Reinhold |
| Daniel, a Jewish prophet | contralto | Susannah Maria Cibber |
Synopsis
Precis: Despite the warnings of his mother Queen Nitocris, King Belshazzar of Babylon commits sacrileges against the God of the Jews, who are in captivity there. The city is besieged, Belshazzar is slain, and the Jews are freed to return to their homeland by Cyrus the Great of Persia.Act I
Scene: Babylon, 538 BC. The city is being besieged by an army of Medes and Persians, led by Cyrus.The Palace in Babylon
The Queen Mother Nitocris, mother of Belshazzar, muses on the changes than can affect even the most powerful of human beings Nitocris has become convinced that the God of the Jews, who are being held in captivity in Babylon, is the true God, and to Him she prays. The Jewish prophet Daniel, whom she has learnt to trust, comes to her. She is concerned about the fate of the empire under the rule of her wayward son. Daniel advises her that submission to the will of God will be rewarded.
The camp of Cyrus before Babylon. A view of the city, with the River Euphrates running through it
The Babylonians watch from the city walls and deride Cyrus and his army for making what they believe are impracticable preparations for storming the city. Gobrias, a Babylonian noble who has defected to Cyrus, fears they are right. Gobrias longs for revenge for the death of his son which was caused by Belshazzar. Cyrus assures him he will prevail. Cyrus says that, as he stood on the banks of the Euphrates, he was seized by what seemed a divine inspiration. Cyrus had the idea to drain the river which runs through the city and march into it along the riverbed. A good opportunity to do this will be during the feast of the Babylonian god Sesach, on which, Gobrias confirms, it is a religious duty to the Babylonians to get roaring drunk in the god's honour. Cyrus dedicates himself to the, as yet unknown to him, powerful deity whom he feels is directing his steps. His army comment that great deeds are only possible with divine assistance.
Daniel's house. Daniel, with the Prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah open before him. Other Jews
Daniel is consulting sacred Jewish texts for guidance. He feels sure that he and his fellow Jews will soon attain their freedom. Daniel has found a prophesy in the texts that indicates that Cyrus is the anointed of the Lord and will imminently overthrow Babylon and release the Jews from their captivity. The Jews praise God for His mercy
The Palace
Belshazzar, with his mother, Babylonians and Jews present, is celebrating the feast of Sesach by uproariously drinking copious amounts of wine. His mother Nitocris rebukes him for his riotous excess. Belshazzar responds that getting drunk on the feast of Sesach is the custom, in fact a duty, and noticing the Jews around him, orders the sacred vessels from the temple of Jerusalem that were brought as tribute to Babylon to be brought to him so he can continue to drink from them. His mother is horrified by such sacrilege and the Jews beg the King not to perform such a profanation. Nitrocis implores her beloved son not to thus incur God's wrath, but Belshazzar scornfully rejects what he considers his mother's superstition The Jews comment that the Lord is slow to anger but his wrath will eventually be awoken.
Act 2
Without the city, the river almost emptyThe Persians are elated that Cyrus' scheme has succeeded and the Euphrates has been diverted. Cyrus assures his army that now is the perfect time to attack as their enemies will all be off their guard due to being intoxicated or in a drunken stupor after the feast of Sesach. The army is eager to follow him into battle.
A banquet-room, adorned with the images of the Babylonian gods. Belshazzar, his wives, concubines, and lords, drinking out of the Jewish temple-vessels, and singing the praises of their gods
The Babylonians are having a wonderful time on their holiday getting drunk in honour of their gods. King Belshazzar praises wine. Belshazzar taunts the God of Israel with impotence but as he is going to drink, a hand appears writing upon the wall over against him: he sees it, turns pale with fear, drops the bowl of wine, falls back in his seat, trembling from head to foot, and his knees knocking against each other. The Babylonians are dismayed Belshazzar draws their attention to the hand -Pointing to the hand upon the wall, which, while they gaze at it with astonishment, finishes the writing, and vanishes. Belshazzar, dismayed, orders his wise men and soothsayers brought to him. They enter to an orchestral interlude but are unable to offer any elucidation of the strange writing. The Babylonians are terrified. Queen Nitocris advises her son to call the prophet Daniel to interpret the writing, which he does, and offers rewards to the prophet when he arrives for interpreting the text. Daniel rejects any monetary inducement however and offers his interpretation of the writing on the wall for free. Daniel says the words on the wall are "Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin", which he interprets to mean "You have been tried in the balance and found wanting". Queen Nitocris is greatly distressed and begs her son to abandon his profligate ways.
Cyrus, Gobrias and Chorus of Persians and Medes, within the City
Cyrus is thankful that he and his army have succeeded in entering Babylon. He orders Gobrias, who is familiar with the city, to lead the way, and commands that no Babylonian except the tyrannical King shall be harmed. His men praise his wisdom and mercy.
Act 3
The palaceQueen Nitocris is alternating between hope that her son will see the error of his ways and despair that the empire under his rule is doomed. Daniel advises her that there is little chance of Belshazzar's reformation. They receive news that Babylon has been invaded by Cyrus and his army, which alarms the Queen but elates the Jews
Belshazzar, his lords, and other Babylonians, with their swords drawn
Belshazzar, inspired by the "juice" of his god Sesach, prepares to fight Cyrus and the Persians A martial "symphony" ensues as the two armies meet. Belshazzar is slain and Gobrias gives thanks to God. The victorious Cyrus orders that the Queen Mother Nitocris and the prophet Daniel should come to no harm. Nitocris appears and thanks him for his clemency, as Cyrus promises to be a second son to her. The prophet Daniel enters and tells Cyrus that he has fulfilled the Lord's predictions. The Jews praise God. Cyrus pledges to rebuild Jerusalem and allow the Jews to return there. Daniel, Nitocris, and the Jews give thanks to God.