The core of
Händel
’s oratorios formal structure is the special prominence given to the choir, which is effectively functional in the musical drama, through its close correlation to the aria. Influenced by ancient Greek drama, Händel attributes to the choir the first role. At the same time, he develops the standard ternary form of the
da capo aria into a free dramatic form, combining elements of dramatic expression of both the
recitativo and the
aria. The free dramatic form of
Händel
’s arias is obviously present in his musical dramas
Semele and
Hercules, in which the composer attempted to reform the musical theater, expanding the dramatic expression beyond the conventional boundaries of the baroque.