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

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

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

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

0:51

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

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

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, 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)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

0:32

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

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

3:54

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

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, 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)

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

0:11

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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, 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)

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)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, 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)

Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir, Les Arts Florissants

2:59

Air and Chorus. These delights if thou canst give (L'Allegro)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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)

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

1:52

Recitative. No more short life (Il Moderato)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, 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)

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
William Christie

Conductor
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
Leo Jemison

Soprano