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

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Leo Jemison, Rachel Ramond, 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)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

1:53

Accompagnato. Hence vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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, 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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

0:32

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

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

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)

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

3:25

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

3:12

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

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:25

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

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
James Way

Tenor
William Christie

Conductor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone