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

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

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

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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:51

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

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

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

2:38

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

1:16

Recitative. Hence, loathed Melancholy (L'Allegro); Recitative. And if I give thee honour due (L'Allegro)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

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)

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

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)

Trinity Noys Choir, Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants

4:05

Accompagnato. Hence, vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

1:18

Air. But oh, sad virgin (Il Penseroso)

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

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, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:01

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

Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

2:13

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

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

4:13

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

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

0:25

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

1:52

Recitative. No more short life (Il Moderato)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
Leo Jemison

Soprano
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble