Handel – Saul / Alexander’s Feast / The Choice of Hercules [Box set] (Allen, Morrell, Best, Harper, Watts, Bowman, Donath – Ledger) (2002) FLAC

Saul, oratorio, HWV 53
CD1
1 Act 1. Sinfonia. Allegro – Larghetto – Allegro – Andante larghetto 12:53
2 Act 1. Chorus. How excellent thy name, oh Lord 3:17
3 Act 1. Aria. An infant rais’d by thy command 1:27
4 Act 1. Chorus. Along the monster atheist strode 1:13
5 Act 1. Chorus. The youth inspir’d by Thee, oh Lord 3:25
6 Act 1. Chorus. Hallelujah 2:04
7 Act 1. Recitativo. He comes, he comes! 0:05
8 Act 1. Aria. Oh god-like youth! 3:22
9 Act 1. Recitativo. Behold, oh king 0:58
10 Act 1. Aria. Oh king, your favours with delight 6:24
11 Act 1. Aria. Recitativo. Oh early piety 0:30
12 Act 1. Aria. What abject thoughts a prince can have! 2:28
13 Act 1. Recitativo. Yet think, on whom this honour you bestow 0:18
14 Act 1. Aria. Birth and fortune I despise! 5:10
15 Act 1. Recitativo. Thou, Merab, first in birth 0:24
16 Act 1. Aria. My soul rejects the thought with scorn 1:33
17 Act 1. Aria. See, see with what a scornful air 1:11
18 Act 1. Ah! Lovely youth 1:00
19 Act 1. Sinfonia. Andante – Allegro 1:15
20 Act 1. Recitativo. Already see the daughters of the land 0:22
21 Act 1. Chorus. Welcome, welcome, mighty king! 1:42
22 Act 1. Accompagnato. What do I hear? 0:23
23 Act 1. Chorus. David his ten thousands slew 0:38
24 Act 1. Accompagnato. To him ten thousands 0:14
25 Act 1. Aria. With rage I shall burst 1:23
26 Act 1. Recitativo. Imprudent women! 0:56
27 Act 1. Aria. Fell rage and black despair possess’d 3:24
28 Act 1. Recitativo. Rack’d with infernal pains 0:20
29 Act 1. Aria. O Lord, whose mercies numberless 4:01
30 Act 1. Sinfonia (harp solo) 1:48
31 Act 1. Recitativo. ‘Tis all in vain 0:23
32 Act 1. Aria. A serpent, in my bosom warm’d 2:09
33 Act 1. Recitativo. Has he escap’d my rage? 0:25
34 Act 1. Aria. Capricious man, in humour lost 4:20
35 Act 1. Accompagnato. Oh filial piety! Oh sacred friendship! 1:50
36 Act 1. Aria. No, no cruel father, no! 1:48
37 Act 1. Chorus. Preserve him for the glory of thy name 3:02

CD2
1 Act 2. Chorus. Envy! eldest born of hell! 2:59
2 Act 2. Recitativo. Ah! dearest friend 0:36
3 Act 2. Aria. But sooner Jordan’s stream 2:26
4 Act 2. Recitativo. Oh strange vicissitude! 0:48
5 Act 2. Aria. Such haughty beauties rather move 5:17
6 Act 2. Recitativo. My father comes 0:14
7 Act 2. Recitativo. Hast thou obey’d my orders 0:38
8 Act 2. Aria. Sin not, oh king, against the youth 2:01
9 Act 2. Aria. As great Jehovah lives 1:49
10 Act 2. Aria. From cities storm’d 2:19
11 Act 2. Recitativo. Appear, my friend 0:36
12 Act 2. Aria. Your words, oh king 1:13
13 Act 2. Recitativo. Yes, he shall wed my daughter! 0:29
14 Act 2. Recitativo. A father’s will has authoriz’d my love 0:35
15 Act 2. Duet. Oh fairest of ten thousand fair 3:17
16 Act 2. Chorus. Is there a man 1:50
17 Act 2. Sinfonia. Largo – Allegro 5:21
18 Act 2. Recitativo. Thy father is as cruel 0:35
19 Act 2. Duet. At persecution I can laugh 1:30
20 Act 2. Recitativo. Whom dost thou seek? 0:41
21 Act 2. Aria. No, no, let the guilty tremble 2:04
22 Act 2. Sinfonia. Allegro 1:23
23 Act 2. Accompagnato. The time at length is come 0:39
24 Act 2. Recitativo. Where is the son of Jesse? 1:13 4:35

CD3
1 Act 3. Accompagnato. Wretch that I am! 2:33
2 Act 3. Recitativo. ‘Tis said, here lives a woman 0:55
3 Act 3. Recitativo. With me what would’st thou? 0:49
4 Act 3. Aria. Infernal spirits 1:54
5 Act 3. Accompagnato. Why hast thou forc’d me 3:44
6 Act 3. Sinfonia. Allegro 0:46
7 Act 3. Recitativo. Whence comst thou? 1:06
8 Act 3. Aria. Impious wretch 1:56
9 Act 3. Sinfonia. Grave (Dead March) 4:08
10 Act 3. Chorus. Mourn, Israel 3:32
11 Act 3. Aria. Oh let us not in Gath be heard 2:48
12 Act 3. Aria. From this unhappy day 2:51
13 Act 3. Aria. Brave Jonathan 0:30
14 Act 3. Chorus. Eagles were not so swift as they 0:25
15 Act 3. Aria. In sweetest harmony they liv’d 4:28
16 Act 3. Solo & chorus. Oh fatal day! 4:04
17 Act 3. Recitativo. Ye men of Judah, weep no more! 0:33
18 Act 3. Chorus. Gird on they sword 6:32

George Frederick Handel – Saul, oratorio, HWV 53
Thomas Allen (Baritone)
Robert Tear (Tenor)
Paul Esswood (Countertenor)
Margaret Marshall (Soprano)
Sally Burgess (Soprano)
Martin Hill (Tenor)
Charles Daniels (Tenor)
Matthew Best (Bass)
Gareth Morrell (Bass)
Christoffer Gillett (Tenor)
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
English Chamber Orchester
Philip Ledger

Alexander’s Feast, ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, HWV 75

CD4
1 Part 1. Overture 6:31
2 Part 1. Recitativo. ‘Twas at the royal feast 1:04
3 Part 1. Aria & chorus. Happy, happy, happy pair! 4:43
4 Part 1. Recitativo. Timotheus, plac’d on high 0:30
5 Part 1. Accompagnato. The song began from Jove 1:02
6 Part 1. Chorus. The list’ning crowd 2:02
7 Part 1. Aria. With ravish’d ears 3:50
8 Part 1. Recitativo. The praise of Bacchus 0:39
9 Part 1. Aria & chorus. Bacchus, ever fair and young 5:03
10 Part 1. Recitativo. Sooth’d with the sound 0:45
11 Part 1. Accompagnato. He chose a mournful muse 1:27
12 Part 1. Aria. He sung Darius, great and good 3:06
13 Part 1. Accompagnato. With downcast looks 1:14
14 Part 1. Chorus. Behold Darius great and good 2:38
15 Part 1. Recitativo. The mighty master, smil’d to see 0:32
16 Part 1. Arioso. Softly sweet in Lydian measures 3:08
17 Part 1. Aria. War, he sung, is toil and trouble 4:40
18 Part 1. Chorus. The many rend the skies 4:45
19 Part 1. Aria. The prince, unable to conceal his pain 6:57
20 Part 1. Chorus [da capo]. The many rend the skies 4:49
21 Part 2. Accompagnato & chorus. Now strike the golden lyre again 8:37
22 Part 2. Aria. Revenge, revenge, Timotheus cries 2:03
23 Part 2. Accompagnato. Give this vengeance due 1:31
24 Part 2. Aria. The princes applaud 2:58

CD5
1 Part 2. Aria & chorus. Thais led the way 5:20
2 Part 2. Accompagnato & chorus. Thus, long ago 5:04
3 Part 2. Recitativo. Let old Timotheus yield the prize 0:30
4 Part 2. Soli & chorus. Let old Timotheus yield the prize 3:54
5 Part 2. Recitativo. Your voices tune 0:38
6 Part 2. Duet. Let’s imitate her notes above 2:48
7 Part 2. Chorus. Your voices tune and raise 3:04

George Frederick Handel – Alexander’s Feast, ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, HWV 75
Thomas Allen (Baritone)
Robert Tear (Tenor)
Helen Donath (Soprano)
Sally Burgess (Soprano)
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
English Chamber Orchester
Philip Ledger

The Choice of Hercules, oratorio, HWV 69

CD5
8 Sinfonia 1:08
9 Recitativo. See, Hercules! 1:48
10 Aria. Come, blooming boy 1:57
11 Aria. There the brisk sparkling nectar drain 2:28
12 Aria & chorus. While for thy arms 2:30
13 Recitativo. Away, mistaken wretch! 0:28
14 Aria. This manly youth’s exalted mind 6:15
15 Recitativo. Rise, youth! exalt thyself and me 0:18
16 Aria. Go, assert thy heav’nly race 2:43
17 Recitativo. In peace, in war 0:20
18 Chorus. So shalt thou gain immortal praise 2:25
19 Recitativo. Hear’st thou, what dangers 0:37
20 Aria & chorus. Turn thee, youth, to joy and love 2:34
21 Recitativo. Short is my way – Oh cease, enchanting siren! 0:38
22 Aria. Yet can I hear that dulcet lay 3:41
23 Aria. Enjoy the sweet Elysian grove 2:22
24 Recitativo. Oh! whither, Reason, dost thou fly? 0:15
25 Trio. Where shall I go? 2:22
26 Recitativo. Mount, mount the steep ascent! 0:42
27 Aria. Mount, mount the steep ascent! 1:36
28 Chorus. Arise, arise! 2:18
29 Recitativo. The sounds breathe fire celestial 0:17
30 Aria. Lead, Goddess, lead the way! 5:15
31 Chorus. Virtue will place thee 5:29

George Frederick Handel – The Choice of Hercules, oratorio, HWV 69
Heather Harper (Soprano)
Helen Watts (Mezzo-Soprano)
James Bowman (Countertenor)
Robert Tear (Tenor)
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields
Philip Ledger