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

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

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Leo Jemison, 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, James Way, 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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

0:32

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

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

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

11:37

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

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, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:25

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir

4:05

Accompagnato. Hence, vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

1:18

Air. But oh, sad virgin (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

5:57

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

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:33

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

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:45

Fugue Organo ad libitum

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
James Way

Tenor
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir