Critical Response
A review in the St. James's Magazine claimed for the libretto "some poetical merit" but William Kenrick, a rival of Smart's, could not hold the poem as high. A biographer of Worgan claimed that the play lasted only one night because of Handel's popularity in London at the time, and "It is owing to this iniquitous idolatry that the oratorio of Hannah struggled into light, and soon disappeared. The adorers of Handel would not hear of oratorios composed by Arne, Worgan, and Arnold". However, the biographer didn't just blame Handel, but followed Kenrick's assessment when he said, "Hannah teems with resplendent beauties, but is enfeebled by the doggrel of poor Kit Smart."
Read more about this topic: Hannah (oratorio)
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