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

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

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

0:51

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

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

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:38

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

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

1:05

Arioso. Come, but keep thy wonted state (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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, James Way, William Christie

0:32

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

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

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, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

11:37

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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, James Way, William Christie

2:10

Air and Chorus. Or let the merry bells ring round (L'Allegro)

Trinity Noys Choir, Leo Jemison, 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, 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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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)

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, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

3:01

Accompagnato and Chorus. Sweet temp'rance (Il Moderato)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

0:36

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
Leo Jemison

Soprano
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
James Way

Tenor