Deborah is an oratorio in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The libretto was written by Samuel Humphreys, based on the Book of Judges, chapters 4 and 5, which tell the story of Deborah, the prophetess and judge of Israel, and the military victory led by Barak against the Canaanite army of Sisera.
Handel composed Deborah in 1733, between his Italian opera Orlando and the oratorio Athalia. It premiered at the King's Theatre in London on March 21, 1733. Deborah is notable as being Handel's longest oratorio, significantly longer than even Messiah. It is also one of his three oratorios (along with Esther and Athalia) based on Old Testament themes.
The oratorio features a large cast of characters, including Deborah, Barak, Sisera, Jael, and various Israelite and Canaanite soldiers and citizens. The music is typical of Handel's oratorios, featuring a blend of Italian operatic style with English choral traditions. It includes arias, recitatives, and choruses, often grand and dramatic in scale. Several numbers from Deborah were borrowed from Handel's earlier works, reflecting a common practice during the period.
While not as widely performed as Messiah or Israel in Egypt, Deborah remains a significant work in Handel's oratorio output. Its length and demanding vocal requirements contribute to its relative rarity in performance. However, recordings and occasional performances continue to keep the work alive.