GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
(1685-1759)
Alceste, HWV 45
63:16
Incidental music to the play by Tobias Smollett (1721-1771)
Music texts probably by Thomas Morell (1703-1784)
1
1
Ouverture. [ ] - Allegro - A tempo ordinario
5:04
2
2
Grand Entrée
1:57
3
3
Accompagnato (Tenor). 'Ye happy people'
0:22
4
4
Soli and Chorus. 'Triumph, Hymen, in the pair'. Andante allegro
2:34
Elizabeth Weisberg
soprano
Sian Menna
mezzo-soprano
5
5
Solo (Soprano) and Chorus. 'Still caressing, and caress'd'. Allegro
2:34
6
6
Air (Tenor). 'Ye swift minutes as ye fly'. Allegro
3:27
7
7
Chorus. 'O bless, ye pow'rs above'.
2:00
8
8
Air (Soprano). 'Gentle Morpheus, son of light'. Largo e mezzo piano - 'That when bright Aurora's beams'. Andante - Largo - Air
8:07
9
Sinfonia from
Admeto, re di Tessaglia
, HWV 22
1:18
10
9
Air (bass). 'Ye fleeting shades, I come'. Andante
4:19
11
10
Chorus. 'Thrice happy who in life excel'. Larghetto
1:57
12
11
Air (Tenor). 'Enjoy the sweet Elysian grove'. Allegro, ma non troppo
5:14
13
Passacaille from
Radamisto
, HWV 12a
4:42
14
Si replica il Coro precedente 'Thrice happy'
1:58
15
12
Air (Soprano). 'Come, Fancy, empress of the brain'. Allegro, ma non troppo - Adagio
5:33
16
13
Symphony and Accompagnato (Tenor). 'He comes, he rises from below'
1:25
17
14
Chorus. 'All hail, thou mighty son of Jove!' Allegro
2:10
18
15
Symphony. Larghetto
1:55
19
16
Recitative (Tenor). 'From high Olympus' top, the seat of God'
0:44
20
17
Air (Tenor). 'Tune your harps, all ye Nine'. Larghetto
1:44
Segue il Ballo
21
18
Ballo Primo. Un peu lentement
1:48
22
19
L'Ultimo Ballo
0:56
Entra il Coro ultimo
23
20
Chorus. 'Triumph, thou son of Jove'
1:14
Lucy Crowe soprano
Benjamin Hulett tenor
Andrew Foster-Williams bass-baritone
Christian Curnyn
7 and 8 November 2011