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

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

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

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, Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

3:20

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

2:33

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:38

Accompagnato. Come, pensive nun, devout and pure (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

1:05

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

0:10

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

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

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, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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, Trinity Noys Choir, Leo Jemison

4:05

Accompagnato. Hence, vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, 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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

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, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

2:29

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Leo Jemison

Soprano
James Way

Tenor
William Christie

Conductor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone