The Triumph of Time and Truth, an Oratorio in Score Composed in the Year 1751 [HWV 71] - Handel, George Frideric 1685-1759; Morell, Thomas 1703-1784; Pamphili, Benedetto 1653-1730 Cardinal (London Arnold, 1795)
In March 1757, possibly without much involvement from the blind and aging Handel, the original italian oratorio was further expanded and revised, and the libretto reworked into English. Although Jephtha (1751) is considered the composer’s true last oratorio, this third version of Il trionfo comes later.
The compilation of the text is attributed to Thomas Morell, the librettist of most of the late Handel oratorios. In the translation, however, he was able to draw on the English translation of Il trionfo del Tempo e della Verità by George Oldmixon, published in 1737. The introduction of a new character, Deceit, can be traced back to him.
The performance was conducted - as with other concerts of Handel's works in this phase - by his assistant John Christopher Smith. It is not known what role Smith otherwise played in this composition. He probably modified the score according to Handel's oral instructions.
Keywords: 18th Century (1701-1800); Oratorio; United Kingdom