trumpets, timpani and continuo. Athalia shows flexibility and originality in form on Handel's part, combining solos with chorus in new ways. Its vivid characterisation through music contributed to its immense success at its premiere. Summary Recordings See also List of oratorios by George Frideric Handel References Citations Sources External links Full-text libretto hosted by Stanford University. 1733 compositions Adaptations of works by Jean Racine Jacobitism Music in Oxford Oratorios by George Frideric Handel Oratorios based on the Bible