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

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

Rachel Ramond, Leo Jemison, William Christie, Trinity Boys Choir, James Way, Sreten Manojlovic, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

0:51

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

Trinity Noys Choir, William Christie, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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

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, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

0:32

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

Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, 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)

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Trinity Noys Choir, 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, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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, James Way, William Christie

2:25

Accompagnato. Me, when the sun begins to fling (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

Trinity Noys Choir, Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants

2:59

Air and Chorus. These delights if thou canst give (L'Allegro)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

4:13

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

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, 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)

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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

6:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Leo Jemison

Soprano
William Christie

Conductor
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
James Way

Tenor