The Handelian oratorios themed around the Old Testament were hits in the 18th-century England. The middle class, but also servants, cooks and craftsmen queued for the tickets.
While opera presenting court intrigues was preferred by aristocrats, common people would listen to oratorios full of carnal – if not downright bloody or erotic – Biblical stories. The plot of Solomon derives from the First Book of Kings and the Second Book of Chronicles, and tells the story of the Temple of Jerusalem, Solomon’s famous judgements, and the visit of the Queen of Sheba. It is worth noting that the four supporting female roles are sung by two singers, changing the personae between the acts, and Solomon’s part is sung by a woman.