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

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

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

0:51

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

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

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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, James Way, 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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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

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, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

11:37

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

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, 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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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, 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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

0:40

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

3:33

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

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:01

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

Trinity Noys Choir, Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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)

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, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

4:13

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

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

0:25

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

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:36

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

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
William Christie

Conductor
James Way

Tenor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir