034571172835

Handel: L'allegro, Il Penseroso Ed Il Moderato

Robert King: The King's Consort

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Format: 2CD

Cat No: CDA67283-4

Release Date:  01 September 1999

Label:  Hyperion Records Ltd

Packaging Type:  Brilliant Case (Jewel Case size, Holds 2 CDs)

No of Units:  2

Barcode:  034571172835

Genres:  Classical  Baroque  

  • Description

    After the success of Alexander's Feast, a setting of the much admired ode by John Dryden, it was wondered: would the result be greater still if Handel could be persuaded to set the words of a poet even greater than Dryden? Such were the thoughts of an important group of Handel's friends centred around the philosopher James Harris and including Charles Jennens (later the librettist of Messiah) and the Fourth Earl of Shaftesbury. It was under their influence that Handel came to set the poetry of John Milton, first in L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, and later in the oratorio Samson.
    Jennens helped to prepare the libretto for L'Allegro, the first two parts of which are adapted from Milton's two complementary poems, L'Allegro ('The Merry Man') and Il Penseroso ('The Thoughtful Man'), respectively celebrating the different joys of two opposed personalities. The initial idea of interweaving lines from the two poems to make a text for musical setting actually came from James Harris, who also provided the first draft of the libretto. By 19 January 1740 the libretto was finished, and with Handel's enthusiasm and speed in writing the first performance took place on 27 February!
    There is no definitive version of the work as Handel made many changes over time. However, the intention of this perfomance is to retain the freshness of Handel's original vision with the advantage of the best of his second thoughts.

  • Tracklisting

      Disc 1

      Side 1

      • 1. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Overture: [Grave] - Allegro - Lentement - Allegro moderato
      • 2. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Accompagnato - Hence, Loathed Melancholy
      • 3. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Accompagnato - Hence, Vain Deluding Joys
      • 4. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Come, Thou Goddess Fair And Free
      • 5. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Come Rather, Goddess, Sage And Holy
      • 6. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Haste Thee, Nymph, And Bring With Thee
      • 7. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Come And Trip It As You Go
      • 8. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Accompagnato - Come, Pensive Nun, Devout And Pure
      • 9. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Come, But Keep Thy Wonted State
      • 10. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Accompagnato - There, Held In Holy Passion Still
      • 11. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Recitative - Hence, Loathed Melancholy!
      • 12. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Mirth, Admit Me Of Thy Crew
      • 13. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Accompagnato - First And Chief, On Golden Wing
      • 14. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Sweet Bird, That Shun'st The Noise Of Folly
      • 15. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Recitative - If I Give Thee Honour Due
      • 16. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il ModeratoI: Part I: Air - Mirth, Admit Me Of Thy Crew
      • 17. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Oft On A Plat Of Rising Ground
      • 18. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Far From All Resort Of Mirth
      • 19. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Recitative - If I Give Thee Honour Due
      • 20. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Let Me Wander Not Unseen
      • 21. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Straight Mine Eye Hath Caught New Pleasures
      • 22. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Accompagnato - Mountains, On Whose Baren Breast
      • 23. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part I: Air - Or Let The Merry Bells Ring Round

      Disc 2

      • 1. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Accompagnato - Hence, Vain Deluding Joys
      • 2. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Sometimes Let Gorgeous Tragedy
      • 3. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: But O, Sad Virgin, That Thy Pow'r
      • 4. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Thus, Night, Oft See Me In Thy Pale Career
      • 5. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Chorus - Populous Cities Please Me [Us] Then
      • 6. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: There Let Hymen Oft Appear
      • 7. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Accompagnato - Me, When The Sun Begins To Fling
      • 8. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Hide Me From Day's Garish Eye
      • 9. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Air - I'll To The Well-Trod Stage Anon
      • 10. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: And Ever Against Eating Cares
      • 11. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Orpheus' Self May Heave His Head
      • 12. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: These Delights If Thou Canst Give
      • 13. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Recitative - But Let My Due Feet Never Fail
      • 14. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Chorus - There Let The Pealing Organ Blow
      • 15. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: May At Last My Weary Age
      • 16. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Fugue - Organo ad libitum il soggetto della fuga se
      • 17. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part II: Chorus - These Pleasures, Melancholy, Give
      • 18. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part III: Accompagnato - Hence! Boast Not, Ye Profane
      • 19. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part III: Come, With Native Lustre Shine
      • 20. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part III: Accompagnato - Sweet Temp'rance In Thy Right Hand
      • 21. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part III: Come, With Gentle Hand Restrain
      • 22. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part III: Recitative - No More Short Life They Then Will Spe
      • 23. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part III: Each Action Will Derive New Grace
      • 24. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part III: Duet - As Steals The Morn Upon The Night
      • 25. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Part III: Thy Pleasures, Moderation, Give