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

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

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

1:53

Accompagnato. Hence vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

0:51

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

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

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:20

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

2:33

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:38

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

1:05

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

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

3:54

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

0:43

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

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

11:37

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

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

0:10

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

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:49

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

3:25

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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, Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants

4:05

Accompagnato. Hence, vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

1:18

Air. But oh, sad virgin (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

5:57

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

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

3:12

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

James Way, William Christie, 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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, 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)

Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants, Trinity Noys Choir

2:59

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

3:21

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

3:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

2:29

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

1:52

Recitative. No more short life (Il Moderato)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

0:36

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Leo Jemison

Soprano
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
James Way

Tenor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone