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

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

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

1:53

Accompagnato. Hence vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

0:51

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

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

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

1:05

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

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

0:43

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

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir, Les Arts Florissants

4:05

Accompagnato. Hence, vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

1:18

Air. But oh, sad virgin (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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)

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

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:21

Recitative. But let my due feet never fail (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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, Rachel Redmond, 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)

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
William Christie

Conductor
James Way

Tenor