{"product_id":"handel-the-choice-of-hercules-the-kings-consort-robert-king","title":"Handel: The Choice Of Hercules - THE KING'S CONSORT \/ ROBERT KING","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e \u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0067\/4660\/3571\/files\/official_about_this_recording_sept_2022_e7703d5a-a47d-4dfb-8593-486633b5ac7a.png?v=1668436318\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRobert King follows up his recent, resplendent, critically acclaimed reconstruction of the Coronation of King George II (CDA67286) with some more Handel, this time in the form of his lesser-known one-act dramatic cantata, The Choice of Hercules.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWhen Handel introduced English oratorios to London in the 1730s, he did not confine himself to sacred subjects, exploring also Classical myths, with texts based on Roman and Greek literature. The Choice of Hercules marks Handel’s last realisation of a Classical tale. It started life in 1749 as music for Alceste, but the Covent Garden production was cancelled, leaving Handel with an hour of superb music on his hands. By the summer of 1750 he had adapted several numbers and added new ones, and in 1751 it premiered as ‘an additional New Act’ concluding a performance of the ode Alexander’s Feast. Much of the music from the original conception (the story of a loyal wife who dies to save her husband and is subsequently rescued from the Underworld by Hercules) transferred easily to its new guise, for example the noble opening Sinfonia, originally intended to mark Hercules’ return from the Underworld, now entirely apt for the entrance of the young Hercules in the new drama.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHercules’ choice is thus: on the verge of manhood, he is contemplating his future when two women appear to him. One, Vice, eager and seductive, shows him a path which seems to offer easy progress to a life of indolent pleasure. The other, tall and beautiful and identified as Virtue, warns Hercules that what is truly good can only be obtained through hard effort; and only then can Hercules gain supreme glory.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlso on this disc is an anthem by Maurice Greene, a contemporary of Handel, and by all accounts an arch rival, particularly when Handel was chosen above Greene by George II to write the new anthems for his coronation.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eFull marks to Robert King who has assembled yet again a formidably superb collection of artists to perform this particularly attractive repertoire.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0067\/4660\/3571\/files\/official_TRACK_LISTING_WITH_WORLD.png?v=1663272176\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe Choice of Hercules HWV69[48'18]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e1\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 1: Sinfonia[1'18]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e2\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 2, Accompagnato: See Hercules! how smiles yon myrtle plain (Pleasure)[2'42]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSusan Gritton (soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e3\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 3, Air: Come, blooming boy (Pleasure)[2'19]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSusan Gritton (soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e4\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 4, Air: There the brisk sparkling nectar drain (Pleasure)[2'36]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSusan Gritton (soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e5\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 5, Solo and Chorus: While for thy arms that beauty glows (Pleasure)[2'36]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSusan Gritton (soprano), King's Consort Choir\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e6\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 6, Recitative: Away, mistaken wretch, away! (Virtue)[0'30]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlice Coote (mezzo-soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e7\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 7, Air: This manly youth's exalted mind (Virtue)[5'31]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlice Coote (mezzo-soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e8\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 8, Recitative: Rise, youth! exalt thyself and me! (Virtue)[0'17]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlice Coote (mezzo-soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e9\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 9, Air: Go, assert thy heav'nly race (Virtue)[2'52]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlice Coote (mezzo-soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e10\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 10, Recitative: In peace, in war (Virtue)[0'18]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlice Coote (mezzo-soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e11\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 11, Solo and Chorus: So shalt thou gain immortal praise (Virtue)[1'46]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlice Coote (mezzo-soprano), King's Consort Choir\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e12\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 12, Recitative: Hearst thou, what dangers then thou must engage? (Pleasure)[0'27]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSusan Gritton (soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e13\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 13, Solo and Chorus: Turn thee, youth, to joy and love (Pleasure)[2'32]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSusan Gritton (soprano), King's Consort Choir\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e14\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 14, Recitative: Short is my way, fair, easy, smooth and plain (Pleasure\/Hercules)[0'39]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSusan Gritton (soprano), Robin Blaze (countertenor)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e15\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 15, Air: Yet, can I hear that dulcet lay (Hercules)[4'18]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRobin Blaze (countertenor)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e16\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 16, Air: Enjoy the sweet Elysian grove (Attendant on Pleasure)[2'18]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eCharles Daniels (tenor)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e17\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 17, Recitative: Oh! whither, reason, dost thou fly? (Hercules)[0'15]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRobin Blaze (countertenor)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e18\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 18, Trio: Where shall I go? (Hercules\/Pleasure\/Virtue)[1'47]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRobin Blaze (countertenor), Susan Gritton (soprano), Alice Coote (mezzo-soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e19\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 19, Recitative: Mount, mount the steep ascent (Virtue)[0'40]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlice Coote (mezzo-soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e20\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 20, Air: Mount, mount the steep ascent (Virtue)[1'02]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlice Coote (mezzo-soprano)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e21\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 21, Chorus: Arise! mount the steep ascent[2'08]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eKing's Consort Choir\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e22\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 22, Recitative: The sounds breathe fire celestial (Hercules)[0'15]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRobin Blaze (countertenor)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e23\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 23, Air: Lead, goddess, lead the way! (Hercules)[4'49]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRobin Blaze (countertenor)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e24\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 24, Chorus: Virtue will place thee in that blest abode[4'23]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eKing's Consort Choir\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHearken unto me, ye holy children[16'47]Maurice Greene (1696-1755)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e25\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 1, Solo: Hearken unto me, ye holy children[3'02]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRobin Blaze (countertenor)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e26\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 2, Chorus: Magnify His name[1'32]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eKing's Consort Choir\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e27\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 3, Chorus: And in praising Him you shall say[2'45]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eKing's Consort Choir\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e28\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 4, Solo: To be a father to the fatherless[1'43]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eCharles Daniels (tenor)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e29\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 5, Duet: Therefore shall he receive a glorious kingdom[1'42]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRobin Blaze (countertenor), Charles Daniels (tenor)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e30\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 6, Recitative: How is he numb'red[0'34]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePeter Harvey (bass)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e31\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 7, Solo: His name shall endure for ever[2'18]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePeter Harvey (bass)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e32\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo 8, Chorus: Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers[3'11]\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eKing's Consort Choir\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HYPERION","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46900339343610,"sku":"CDA67298","price":5.23,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0067\/4660\/3571\/files\/034571172989.png?v=1732711718","url":"https:\/\/classicselectworld.com\/de-de\/products\/handel-the-choice-of-hercules-the-kings-consort-robert-king","provider":"ClassicSelect World","version":"1.0","type":"link"}