Listen: “Belshazzar’s Feast” Handel Oratorio
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NPR Celebrates Thanksgiving with Handel’s “Belshazzar’s Feast”
Listen to the entire oratorio performed in concert by the Church of Saint Igantius Loyola at NPR (will take you to the concert’s homepage). This synopsis of the oratorio comes from the NPR site:
Act One: The story is set in and around the walled city of Babylon in the year 538 B.C. The Persians, led by Cyrus, have been attempting to take the city by siege to liberate the imprisoned Jews.
Belshazzar’s mother, Nitocris, laments over the moral decay of kingdoms and their rulers. The Jewish prophet Daniel cautions her not to question the will of God.
Meanwhile, Cyrus tells Gobryas (a Babylonian defector) about his plans to conquer the city, revealed to him in a dream. The Euphrates River will be diverted, leaving a dry riverbed and easy access into Babylon. Belshazzar and his men will not notice the diversion as they are already busy celebrating the Feast of Sesach.
At the party, Belshazzar scoffs at his mother’s request to show a little respect to the captive Jews. Instead, the king insists that his guests drink from sacred vessels looted from the Temple of Jerusalem.
Act Two: The diversion of the river has been a success, and Cyrus leads his forces into Babylon. At the feast, Belshazzar challenges the god of Israel. Suddenly, a mysterious hand appears, writing three unknown words on the wall. No one can decipher the script except the prophet Daniel, who reveals its meaning: The king Belshazzar shall fall. Nitocris urges Belshazzar to repent, and as he refuses the chorus of Persian warriors is heard.
Act Three: The feast is interrupted by a messenger announcing that Cyrus and his Persian forces are now within the palace. A drunken Belshazzar gathers his men to meet Cyrus and is killed. Nitocris submits, but Cyrus asks her to think of him not as an enemy but as her son. As a chorus of captive Israelites celebrates victory, Cyrus promises to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
P.S. Don’t forget the other listening opportunities posted here on the Choral Music Resource, just click the ‘Listen’ category on the right to see them all.