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

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

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

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

1:53

Accompagnato. Hence vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:20

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:33

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:38

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

1:16

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

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:32

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

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

3:54

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

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:43

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

2:49

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:10

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

Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir

4:05

Accompagnato. Hence, vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

1:18

Air. But oh, sad virgin (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

5:57

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:12

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:25

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

0:40

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

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir

2:59

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

3:21

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

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

0:35

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:45

Fugue Organo ad libitum

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

1:52

Recitative. No more short life (Il Moderato)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

0:36

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
William Christie

Conductor
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
James Way

Tenor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone