The success obtained by Esther naturally encouraged the author to try once more the effect of that style of composition. During the earlier performances of Orlando, he wrote Deborah, which was finished on the 24th of February, 1733. It was on the 17th of March that this second English oratorio succeeded Floridante, which had been revived from the 3rd to the 13th. The Daily Journal of the 17th of March announces :—” By His Majesty's command. Deborah, an oratorio or sacred drama, in English, composed by Mr. Handel. The house to be fitted up and illuminated in a new and particular manner; and to be performed by a great number of the best voices and instruments. Tickets, to be delivered at the office of the Opera-house on Friday and Saturday, 16th and 17th inst., one guinea each; gallery, half a guinea. N.B.-This is the last dramatick performance that will be exhibited at the King's Theatre till after Easter.”

The price of seats varied according to the wish of the managers. The enormous price of one guinea, demanded on account of the new oratorio, was the signal for general discontent. The annual subscribers were moreover greatly shocked, and not without reason, at being forced to pay extra for their places because a sacred English drama was given in the place of a profane Italian one, even supposing “the house to be fitted up and illuminated in a new and particular manner.”