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

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

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

0:51

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

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

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, William Christie, James Way

2:33

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

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

0:32

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

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

3:54

Accompagnato. First, and chief, on golden wing (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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)

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

0:11

Air. Let me wander, not unseen (L'Allegro)

William Christie, James Way, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

1:18

Air. But oh, sad virgin (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

5:57

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

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, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

3:33

Air. I'll to the well-trod stage anon (L'Allegro)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

4:13

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

0:25

Air. Come, with native lustre shine (Il Moderato)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

3:01

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

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

0:36

Air. Each Action will derive new Grace (Il Moderato)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
James Way

Tenor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
Leo Jemison

Soprano