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

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

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

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, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

0:51

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

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

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

1:05

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

0:32

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

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

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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

11:37

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

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, 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, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

1:18

Air. But oh, sad virgin (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

2:29

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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
William Christie

Conductor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
Leo Jemison

Soprano
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble