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

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

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

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, James Way, William Christie

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)

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

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

0:32

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

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

3:54

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

0:11

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

5:57

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

3:12

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

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

3:21

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, 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
William Christie

Conductor
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
Leo Jemison

Soprano