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

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

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

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)

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

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)

James Way, William Christie, 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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

0:32

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

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

3:54

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

0:43

Air. Sweet bird, that shun'st the noise of folly (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

11:37

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

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:11

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

2:10

Air and Chorus. Or let the merry bells ring round (L'Allegro)

Trinity Noys Choir, Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

3:12

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:25

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

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:40

Air. Hide me from day's garish eye (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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, James Way, 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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic

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)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

0:36

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
William Christie

Conductor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
Leo Jemison

Soprano