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

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

Leo Jemison, Rachel Ramond, William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, James Way, Trinity Boys Choir, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

3:20

Air and Chorus. Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee (L'Allegro)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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, Les Arts Florissants, Trinity Noys Choir, William Christie

3:54

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

0:43

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, 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, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Leo Jemison, Les Arts Florissants, Trinity Noys Choir

4:05

Accompagnato. Hence, vain deluding joys (Il Penseroso)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

3:12

Air. There let Hymen oft appear (L'Allegro)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, 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)

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, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

0:25

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, 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)

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Leo Jemison

Soprano
William Christie

Conductor
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
James Way

Tenor