GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
(1685-1759)
Esther
137:19
Version of 1732 (HWV 50b)
An Oratorio in three acts
Libretto by Samuel Humphreys and others
Performing edition prepared by Anthony Hicks and Peter Jones
COMPACT DISC ONE
Act 1
Scene 1
1
Overture:
Andante - Larghetto - Allegro
7:06
Israelite Woman
2
Breathe soft ye gales
3:44
3
Watchful Angels
1:34
Esther
4
O King of kings, celestial Lord!
0:23
5
Alleluia
3:06
Mordecai
6
With transport, lovely queen
0:38
7
So much beatury sweetly blooming
4:16
8
Again shall Salem, to the skies
0:15
Anthem
Solos & Chorus
9
My heart is inditing
2:43
10
Kings' daughters
3:20
11
Upon the right hand
2:58
12
Kings shall be thy nursing fathers
3:10
Scene 2
Ahasuerus
13
Let me with freedom thy petition know
1:10
Ahaseurus
14
Endless fame
7:30
Scene 3
Harbonah
15
'Tis greater far to spare
0:38
Haman
16
Pluck root and branch
2:06
Officer
17
Our souls with ardour glow
0:08
Chorus
18
Shall we the God of Israel fear?
1:42
Scene 4
First Israelite
19
Jerusalem no more shall mourn
0:30
Israelite Woman
20
Tune your harps to cheerful strains
4:16
Second Israelite
21
Shall we of servitude complain
0:12
Israelite Woman
22
Praise the Lord with cheerful noise
2:34
Scene 5
Mordecai
23
How have our sins provok'd the Lord!
0:53
Chorus
24
Ye sons of Israel, mourn
2:16
Mordecai
25
O Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide!
8:22
Chorus
26
Ye sons of Israel, mourn
2:44
COMPACT DISC TWO
Act 2
Scene 1
Chorus
1
Tyrants may awhile presume
2:43
Scene 2
Esther
2
Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?
0:51
Mordecai
3
Dread not, righteous Queen
5:08
Israelite Woman
4
O heaven, protect her
0:14
Duet
Israelite Woman & Mordecai
5
Blessings descend on downy wings
4:34
Esther
6
I go, the pow'r of grief to prove
0:16
7
Tears assist me, pity moving
3:01
Chorus
8
Save us, O Lord!
1:35
Scene 3
Ahasuerus
9
Who dares intrude into our presence
1:11
Duet
Esther, Ahasuerus
10
Who calls my parting soul from death?
2:54
Ahasuerus
11
O beauteous queen, unclose those eyes
5:49
Esther
12
If I find favour in thy sight
0:24
Ahasuerus
13
How can I stay when love invites?
3:14
Scene 4
First Israelite
14
With inward joy his visage glows
0:36
Israelite Woman
15
Heav'n has lent her ev'ry charm
4:36
First Israelite
16
The king will listen to the royal fair
0:13
Anthem
Chorus
17
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord
5:25
Act 3
Scene 1
Mordecai
18
Jehovah crown'd with glory bright
1:34
Chorus
19
He comes! He comes to end our woes
2:00
Scene 2
Ahasuerus
20
Now O my queen, thy suit declare
1:25
Haman
21
Turn not, O queen, thy face away
2:27
Esther
22
Flatt'ring tongue, no more I hear thee
4:33
Ahasuerus
23
Guards, seize the traitor
0:26
24
Through the nation he shall be
1:43
Chorus
25
All applauding crowds, around
0:51
Haman
26
How art thou fall'n from thy height!
2:46
Duet
Ester, Israelite Woman
27
I'll proclaim the wond'rous story
2:48
Scene 3
Chorus with Solos
28
The Lord our enemy has slain, Allelujah!
5:16
Rosemary Joshua soprano - Esther
James Bowman countertenor - Ahasuerus
Susan Bickley mezzo-soprano - Mordecai
Christopher Purves bass - Haman
Rebecca Outram soprano - Isaraelite Woman
Andrew Kennedy tenor - First Israelite
Cecilia Osmond soprano - Second Israelite
Angus Smith tenor - Harbonah
Christopher Watson tenor - Persian Officer
Laurence Cummings
23 and 25 April 2002