HWV 49b (I/9,2: score with critical report), ed. by Artie Heinrich, Kassel 2012
With this volume, the late version of Acis and Galatea is available in complete form for the first time. The work, which Handel called a serenata, largely a pastiche of the previous versions Aci, Galatea e Polifemo (HWV 72) and Acis and Galatea (HWV 49a), was first performed in London on June 10, 1732. For further performances in 1733, 1734, 1736, and 1741, Handel revised the serenata several times, primarily due to the omission of individual roles and changes in vocal register, especially in the title role of Acis.
The different versions are presented in the preface and can be easily accessed through a concordance. The musical changes and reworkings are reproduced in four appendices, as are the interlude arias: Appendix II version 1733, Appendix III version 1734, Appendix IV version 1736; Appendix I contains the discarded middle section of a chorus newly composed for HWV 49b.
The Critical Report discusses the source situation, which is quite complicated, since no composition score exists, and the direction score is partially lost. Thus, the indexing of both the original work form and the later versions depended on libretti, various copies, and the reconstruction of the director’s score.