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

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

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

1:53

Accompagnato. Hence vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:51

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

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

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

3:20

Air and Chorus. Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee (L'Allegro)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

0:32

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

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

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

11:37

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

0:10

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

2:49

Air. Oft, on a plat of rising ground (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

5:57

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:12

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

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, 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, Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:13

Solo and Chorus. These pleasures, Melancholy, give (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

2:29

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

1:52

Recitative. No more short life (Il Moderato)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
James Way

Tenor
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
William Christie

Conductor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone