Œuvre hybride entre l’oratorio, l’ode et la sérénade, L’Allegro… compte assurément parmi les pages les plus mystérieuses de Haendel, mais aussi les plus inspirées ! Avec la poésie qu’on leur connaît, William Christie et Les Arts Florissants nous proposent de redécouvrir ce chef-d’œuvre, où le compositeur transfigure la métaphysique en peinture, et les idées en pures émotions.
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)
