Handel: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, HWV 55

Handel: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, HWV 55

Leo Jemison, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, Trinity Boys Choir, Rachel Ramond, James Way, William Christie

2023

Handel’s hybrid of oratorio and opera fizzes with invention, librettist Charles Jennens’ words the perfect foil for Handel’s fertile imagination. Les Arts Florissants and William Christie have lived long with this rarely recorded masterpiece, which is evident from every bar of this performance. Tenor James Way brings virtuosity and wit to “Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee”, Handel’s tremolo strings brilliantly mirroring the laughter of both soloist and chorus. Equally fine are the arias for Il Penseroso, that Rachel Redmond shapes with grace, sensitivity and a beguiling pureness of tone.

Accompagnato. Hence loathed Melancoly. (L'Allegro)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

1:53

Accompagnato. Hence vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

0:51

Air. Come, thou Goddess, fair and free (L'Allegro)

Trinity Noys Choir, William Christie, Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

3:20

Air and Chorus. Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee (L'Allegro)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:33

Air and Chorus. Come, and trip it as you go (L'Allegro)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

2:38

Accompagnato. Come, pensive nun, devout and pure (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

1:05

Arioso. Come, but keep thy wonted state (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

1:23

Chorus. Join with thee calm peace, and quiet

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

1:16

Recitative. Hence, loathed Melancholy (L'Allegro); Recitative. And if I give thee honour due (L'Allegro)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

0:32

Air. Mirth, admit me of thy crew (L'Allegro)

William Christie, Trinity Noys Choir, Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison

3:54

Accompagnato. First, and chief, on golden wing (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

0:43

Air. Sweet bird, that shun'st the noise of folly (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

11:37

Recitative. If I give thee honour due (L'Allegro)

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

0:10

Air. Mirth, admit me of thy crew (L'Allegro)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

2:49

Air. Oft, on a plat of rising ground (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

3:25

Recitative. If I give thee honour due (L'Allegro)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:11

Air. Let me wander, not unseen (L'Allegro)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:10

Air and Chorus. Or let the merry bells ring round (L'Allegro)

Trinity Noys Choir, Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison

4:05

Accompagnato. Hence, vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

1:18

Air. But oh, sad virgin (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

5:57

Recitative. Thus, night oft see me (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

3:12

Air. There let Hymen oft appear (L'Allegro)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:25

Accompagnato. Me, when the sun begins to fling (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:40

Air. Hide me from day's garish eye (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

3:33

Air. I'll to the well-trod stage anon (L'Allegro)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

2:01

Air. And ever against eating cares (L'Allegro)

Trinity Noys Choir, Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison

2:59

Air and Chorus. These delights if thou canst give (L'Allegro)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

3:21

Recitative. But let my due feet never fail (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:35

Chorus. There let the pealing organ blow ; Solo. And let their sweetness, through mine ear (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

2:45

Fugue Organo ad libitum

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

2:13

Solo and Chorus. These pleasures, Melancholy, give (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

4:13

Accompagnato. Hence, boast not, ye profane (Il Moderato)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

0:25

Air. Come, with native lustre shine (Il Moderato)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

3:01

Accompagnato and Chorus. Sweet temp'rance (Il Moderato)

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

2:29

Air. Come, with gentle hand restrain (Il Moderato)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

1:52

Recitative. No more short life (Il Moderato)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

0:36

Air. Each Action will derive new Grace (Il Moderato)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:22

Duet. As steals the morn upon the night (Il Moderato)

William Christie, James Way, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

6:01

Chorus. Thy pleasures, Moderation, give (Il Moderato)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Leo Jemison

Soprano
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir