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

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

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

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, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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, Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

2:33

Air and Chorus. Come, and trip it as you go (L'Allegro)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

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, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

0:32

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

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

3:54

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

2:49

Air. Oft, on a plat of rising ground (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

3:25

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

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

4:13

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

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

0:25

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

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

1:52

Recitative. No more short life (Il Moderato)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
James Way

Tenor
William Christie

Conductor