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

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

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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, Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

2:33

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

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

2:38

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

1:16

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

0:32

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison, 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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir

4:05

Accompagnato. Hence, vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

3:12

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

3:33

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:21

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, 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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:13

Solo and Chorus. These pleasures, Melancholy, give (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

4:13

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

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, 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, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

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, William Christie, James Way

0:36

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Leo Jemison

Soprano
James Way

Tenor
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble