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

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

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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

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)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

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

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, Les Arts Florissants, Trinity Noys Choir

3:54

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

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

0:43

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

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

0:11

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

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

1:18

Air. But oh, sad virgin (Il Penseroso)

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

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)

Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond, William Christie

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)

William Christie, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

Rachel Redmond, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

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, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
James Way

Tenor
Les Arts Florissants

Ensemble