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

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

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

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, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:33

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, 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)

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:10

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

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

0:11

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

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

5:57

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

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, 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)

William Christie, James Way, 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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:33

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

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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)

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

4:13

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

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

0:36

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
James Way

Tenor
William Christie

Conductor