HANDEL: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato - Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (2 CDS)

A hybrid work between oratorio, ode and serenata, L’Allegro . . . is undoubtedly one of Handel's most mysterious works, but also his most inspired! With their accustomed poetry, William Christie and Les Arts Florissants offer us the chance to rediscover this masterpiece, in which the composer transforms metaphysics into painting and ideas into pure emotions.

Les Arts Florissants

• William Christie, Conductor
• Rachel Redmond, Soprano
• James Way, Tenor
• Sreten Manojlović, Bass-baritone

CD1 PARTE PRIMA
· Accompagnato (L'Allegro - tenor) : Hence loathed Melancoly ( 01'53)
· Accompagnato (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Hence vain deluding joys (00'51)
· Air (L'Allegro - boy soprano) : Come, thou goddess, fair and free (01'36)
· Air (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Come rather, goddess sage and holy (03'20)
· Air & Chorus (L'Allegro - tenor) : Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee (02'33)
· Air & Chorus (L'Allegro - tenor) : Come, and trip it as you go (02'38)
· Accompagnato (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Come, pensive nun, devout and pure (01'05)
· Arioso (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Come, but keep thy wonted state (01'23)
· Chorus : Join with thee calm peace, and quiet (01'16)
· Recitative (L'Allegro - tenor) : Hence, loathed Melancholy; Recitative (L'Allegro - boy soprano) : And if I give thee honour due (00'32)
· Air (L'Allegro - boy soprano) : Mirth, admit me of thy crew (03'54)
· Accompagnato (Il Penseroso - soprano) : First, and chief, on golden wing (00'43)
· Air (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Sweet bird, that shun'st the noise of folly (11'37)
· Recitative (L'Allegro - bass) : If I give thee honour due (00'10)
· Air (L'Allegro - bass) : Mirth, admit me of thy crew (02'49)
· Air (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Oft on a plat of rising ground (03'25)
· Recitative (L'Allegro - tenor) : If I give thee honour due (00'11)
· Air (L'Allegro - tenor) : Let me wander, not unseen (02'10:)
· Air & Chorus (L'Allegro - boy soprano) : Or let the merry bells ring round (04'05)CD2 PARTE SECONDA
· Accompagnato (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Hence, vain deluding joys (01'18)
· Air (Il Penseroso - soprano) : But oh, sad virgin ( 05'57)
· Recitative (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Thus, night oft see me (00'15)
· Chorus (Il Penseroso - bass) : Populous cities please me then (03'12)
· Air (L'Allegro - tenor) : There let Hymen oft appear (02'25)
· Accompagnato (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Me, when the sun begins to fling (00'40)
· Air (Il Penseroso - soprano) : Hide me from day's garish eye (03'33)
· Air (L'Allegro - tenor) : I'll to the well-trod stage anon (02'01)
· Air (L'Allegro - boy soprano) : And ever against eating cares (02'59)
· Air & Chorus (L'Allegro - tenor) : These delights if thou canst give (03'21)
· Recitative (Il Penseroso - Soprano) : But let my due feet never fail (00'35)
· Chorus & solo : There let the pealing organ blow ; Solo (Il Penseroso - Soprano) : And let their sweetness, through mine ear (02'45)
· Fugue Organo ad libitum (02'13)
· Solo & Chorus (Il Penseroso - soprano) : These pleasures, Melancholy, give (04'13)
· PARTE TERZA Accompagnato (Il Moderato - bass) : Hence, boast not, ye profane (00'25)
· Air (Il Moderato - bass) : Come, with native lustre shine (03'01)
· Accompagnato & Chorus (Il Moderato - bass) : Sweet temp'rance (02'29)
· Air (Il Moderato - soprano) : Come, with gentle hand restrain (01'52)
· Recitative (Il Moderato - tenor) : No more short life (00'36)
· Air (Il Moderato - tenor) : Each action will derive new grace (02'22)
· Duet (Il Moderato - soprano & tenor) : As steals the morn upon the night (06'01)
· Chorus : Thy pleasures, Moderation, give (03'32)