DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (October 27, 2020)
Beethoven’s deafness is well chronicled. But perhaps less well known is the infirmity of one of Beethoven’s most admired composer, George Frederic Handel.
Beethoven more than once was reported to have said that he found Handel (1695-1759) to be the greatest of all composers. "To him, I bow the knee." Even on his death bed, Beethoven had in his hands a copy of Handel's works, and is reported to have said, "There is the truth."
HANDEL
George Frederic Handel, most well know for his “Messiah”, probably started losing his eyesight starting in the 1740s, especially after a failed cataract surgery by Chevalier John Taylor—the “poster child for 18th century quackery," according to Dr. Daniel Albert, the author of "Men of Vision," a history of ophthalmology. (JS Bach also went to Taylor for eye surgery and supposedly died of infection from it). It was reported that Handel was completely blind by 1751. He called his condition “worse than beggary, old age or chains.” However, Handel had an amazing memory and could still perform music based on his memory.
In September of 1741, amid his deteriorating eye conditions and immediately after the completion of the “Messiah”, Handel begin composing “Samson”, HWV 57, which became one of his finest work. The oratorio uses a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton, which is based on Milton's “Samson Agonistes”. Handel premiered “Samson” in Covent Garden, London, on 18 February 1743.
SAMSON
John Milton (1608-1674) wrote “Samson Agonistes” in 1671 when he had gone blind, echoing the historical Samson. It was published along with his “Paradise Regained”. Samson’s story begins in medias res. Samson has been captured by the Philistines and betrayed by his Philistine wife, Delilah, who cut off his hair—the container of his strength, and cut out his eyes. Samson is "Blind among enemies, O worse than chains".
The “Total Eclipse” of Handel’s “Samson”, is an aria for tenor. The aria highlights the moment of Samson’s anguished lament at losing his eye sight. In “Total Eclipse”, we hear the stinging humiliation of Samson’s fall, and perhaps his feelings of self-betrayal. Stripped of his powers, he is rendered emotionally naked. Not surprisingly, this aria is said to have moved Handel to tears in the final years of his life.
Here’s is a performance of "Total Eclipse”, by the late great Canadan tenor Jon Vickers: