GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685-1759)

Esther

97:36

COMPACT DISC ONE

1

Overture

7:00

Andante - Larghetto - Allegro

Scene 1

Recitative

2

' 'Tis greater far to spare'

0:38

Habdonah, Haman

Aria

3

'Pluck root and branch from out the land'

1:56

Haman

Recitative

4

'Our souls with ardour glow'

0:08

Persian Officer

Chorus

5

'Shall we the God of Israel fear?'

1:38

Scene 2

Recitative

6

'Now persection shall lay by her iron rod'

0:17

First Israelite

Aria

7

'Tune your harps to cheerful strains'

3:53

Chorus

8

'Shall we of servitude complain'

1:20

Aria

9

'Praise the Lord with cheerful noise'

5:35

Israelite Woman

Recitative

10

'O God, who from the suckling's mouth'

0:20

Israelite Women

Aria

11

'Sing songs of praise, bow down the knee'

3:33

Second Israelite

Chorus

12

'Shall we of servitude complain'

1:17

Scene 3

Recitative

13

'How have our sins provoked the Lord!'

1:00

Priest of the Israelites

Chorus

14

'Ye sons of Israel mourn'

2:01

Aria

15

'O Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide'

6:48

Priest of the Israelites

Chorus

16

'Ye sons of Israel mourn'

2:07

Oboe Sonata in G minor (HWV 404)

7:44

17

Andante

2:20

18

Allegro

1:48

19

Adagio

1:08

20

Allegro

2:28

Anthony Robson oboe

COMPACT DISC TWO

Esther (continued)

Scene 4

1

'Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?'

0:58

Esther, Mordecai

Aria

2

'Dreat not, righteous Queen, the danger'

4:10

Mordecai

Recitative

3

'I go before the King to stand'

0:15

Esther

Aria

4

'Tears assist me, pity moving'

2:59

Esther

Chorus

5

'Save us, O Lord'

0:58

Scene 5

Recitative

6

'Who dares intrude into our presence'

1:16

Ahasuerus, Esther

Duet

7

'Who calls my parting soul from death?'

2:30

Esther, Ahasuerus

Aria

8

'O beauteous Queen, unclose those eyes!'

6:43

Ahasuerus

Recitative

9

'If I find favour in thy sight'

0:20

Esther

Aria

10

'How can I stay when love invites?'

3:21

Ahasuerus

Recitative

11

'With inward joy his visage glows'

0:18

Third Israelite, Fourth Israelite

Chorus

12

'Virture, truth and innocence'

2:39

Arioso

13

'Jehovah, crown'd with glory bright'

1:33

Priest of the Israelites

Chorus

14

'He comes, he comes to end our woes'

4:00

Scene 6

Recitative

15

'Now, O Queen, they suit declare'

1:27

Ahasuerus, Esther

Arioso

16

'Turn not, O Queen, thy face away'

2:31

Haman

Aria

17

'Flatt'ring tongue, no more I hear thee!'

5:00

Esther

Recitative

18

'Guards, seize the traitor, bear him hence!'

0:35

Ahasuerus

Aria

19

'How art thou fall'n from thy height!'

5:05

Haman

Chorus

20

'The Lord our enemy has slain'

11:00

Lynda Russell soprano - Esther

Nancy Argenta soprano - Israelite Woman

Michael Chance alto - Priest of the Israelites

Thomas Randle tenor - Ahasuerus, Second Israelite

Mark Padmore tenor - Mordecai,First Israelite

Matthew Vine tenor - Officer, Fourth Israelite

Simon Berridge tenor - Habdonah, Third Israelite

Michael George bass - Haman

Harry Christophers

18-22 May 1995