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

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

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

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, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

3:20

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

2:33

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

2:38

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:32

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

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

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)

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, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

2:49

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

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:25

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

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)

Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:25

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

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Trinity Noys Choir, Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison

2:59

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

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:21

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

4:13

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

0:36

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
James Way

Tenor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
Leo Jemison

Soprano