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

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

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

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, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

1:53

Accompagnato. Hence vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

0:51

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

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

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:20

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

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, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

1:05

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

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

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

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

11:37

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, 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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:33

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

2:01

Air. And ever against eating cares (L'Allegro)

Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir

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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

0:25

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

1:52

Recitative. No more short life (Il Moderato)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
James Way

Tenor
Leo Jemison

Soprano