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

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

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

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

1:53

Accompagnato. Hence vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

1:16

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

0:32

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

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

3:54

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

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, 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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

3:33

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, Trinity Noys Choir, Leo Jemison

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

4:13

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

2:29

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

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

1:52

Recitative. No more short life (Il Moderato)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

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)

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
James Way

Tenor
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
William Christie

Conductor