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, Leo Jemison, James Way, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Ramond

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

0:51

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

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

1:36

Come rather, goddess sage and holy (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, 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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, James Way

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, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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, William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Trinity Noys Choir

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)

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

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, William Christie, 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, James Way, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Trinity Noys Choir, Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison

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, Les Arts Florissants, Rachel Redmond

5:57

Recitative. Thus, night oft see me (Il Penseroso)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Rachel Redmond

0:15

Chorus. Populous cities please me then (Il Penseroso)

William Christie, Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants

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)

Rachel Redmond, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

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)

James Way, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

2:01

Air. And ever against eating cares (L'Allegro)

Les Arts Florissants, Leo Jemison, Trinity Noys Choir

2:59

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

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

3:21

Recitative. But let my due feet never fail (Il Penseroso)

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

4:13

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

William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Sreten Manojlovic

0:25

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

Sreten Manojlovic, Les Arts Florissants, 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)

Les Arts Florissants, James Way, William Christie

0:36

Air. Each Action will derive new Grace (Il Moderato)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, James Way

2:22

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

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

6:01

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

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

3:32

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Sreten Manojlovic

Baritone
William Christie

Conductor
Trinity Boys Choir

Choir
Leo Jemison

Soprano