John Weeks Moore, Complete Encyclopaedia of Music… (1880)
“ This opera has been thought to form an epoch in Handel's life ; as it has been concluded, though without sufficient proof; that the partition of the same drama among the three composers was a premeditated plan, to try their several abilities and determine preeminence. But it seems to have been thus distributed merely for greater despatch, without meaning it as a final competition. The same expedient has been frequently practised in Italy, for variety as well as expedition, when two or three great masters have been in the city ”
