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

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

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

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

0:51

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

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

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)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

2:33

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

0:32

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

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

3:54

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

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

0:10

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

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie

3:12

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

James Way, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

2:25

Accompagnato. Me, when the sun begins to fling (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants

0:40

Air. Hide me from day's garish eye (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

3:33

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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, William Christie, 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

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:29

Air. Come, with gentle hand restrain (Il Moderato)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

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, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble
William Christie

Conductor
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone