Handel: Messiah, Saul, Alexander’s Feast, Ode on St Cecilia’s Day, Belshazzar (CD9)

CD1 MESSIAH

1. Symphony
2. Accompagnato (Tenor): “Comfort ye”
3. Aria (Tenor): “Ev’ry valley”
4. Chorus: “And the glory of the Lord”
5. Accompagnato (Bass): “Thus saith the Lord”
6. Aria (Alto): “But who may abide”
7. Chorus: “And He shall purify”
8. Recitative (Alto): “Behold, a virgin shall conceive”
9. Aria (Alto) and Chorus: “0 thou that tellest good tidings”
10. Accompagnato (Bass): “For behold, darkness shall cover the earth”
11. Aria (Bass): “The people that walked in darkness”
12. Chorus: “For unto us a Child is born”
13. Pifa
14. Recitative (Soprano): “There were shepherds”
15. Accompagnato (Soprano): “And lo, the angel of the Lord”
16. Recitative (Soprano): “And the angel said unto them”
17. Accompagnato (Soprano): “And suddenly there was with the angel”
18. Chorus: “Glory to God”
19. Aria (Soprano): “Rejoice greatly”
20. Recitative (Alto): “Then shall the eyes of the blind”
21. Duet (Alto/Soprano): “He shall feed His flock”
22. Chorus: “His yoke is easy”
23. Chorus: “Behold the Lamb of God”
24. Aria (Alto): “He was despised”

CD2 MESSIAH

1. Chorus: “Surely, He hath borne our griefs”
2. Chorus: “And with His stripes”
3. Chorus: “All we like sheep have gone astray”
4. Accompagnato (Tenor): “All they that see Him”
5. Chorus: “He trusted in God”
6. Accompagnato (Soprano): “Thy rebuke hath broken His heart”
7. Arioso (Soprano): “Behold, and see”
8. Accompagnato (Tenor): “He was cut off”
9. Aria (Tenor): “But Thou didst not leave”
10. Chorus: “Lift up your heads”
11. Recitative (Tenor): “Unto which of the angels”
12. Chorus: “Let all the angels of God”
13. Aria (Alto): “Thou art gone up on high”
14. Chorus: “The Lord gave the word”
15. Aria (Soprano): “How beautiful are the feet of them”
16. Chorus: “Their sound is gone out”
17. Aria (Bass): “Why do the nations”
18. Chorus: “Let us break their bonds asunder”
19. Recitative (Tenor): “He that dwelleth in heaven”
20. Aria (Tenor): “Thou shalt break them”
21. Chorus: “Hallelujah”
22. Aria (Soprano): “I know that my Redeemer liveth”
23. Chorus: “Since by man came death”
24. Accompagnato (Bass): “Behold, I tell you a mystery”
25. Aria (Bass): “The trumpet shall sound”
26. Recitative (Alto): “Then shall be brought to pass”
27. Duet (Alto/Tenor): “O death, where is thy sting”
28. Chorus: “But thanks be to God”
29. Aria (Soprano): “If God be for us”
30. Chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb”

CD3 SAUL

1. Symphony
2. How excellent thy name, o Lord chorus
3. An infant rais’d by thy command soprano
4. Along the monster atheist strode alto, tenor, bass
5. The youth inspir’d by thee, o Lord … How excellent thy name o Lord chorus
6. He comes, he comes! … O godlike youth! Michal
7. Behold, o King … O King, your favours with delight Abner, Saul, David
8. Oh early piety! oh modest merit! Jonathan
9. What abject thoughts … Yet think, on whom this honour you bestow Merab
10. Birth and fortune I despise! Jonathan
11. Thou, Merab, first in birth … My soul rejects the thought Saul, Merab
12. See, with what a scornful air … Ah! lovely youth! Michal
13. Symphony
14. Already see the daughters of the land Michal
15. Welcome, welcome mighty king! … Saul, who hast thy thousands slain chorus
16. What do I hear? … David his ten thousands slew … To him ten thousands! … With rage I shall burst his praises to hear! Saul, chorus
17. Imprudent women! … Fell rage and black despair possess’d Jonathan, Michal
18. Rack’d with infernal pains, ev’n now the king comes forth Abner
19. O Lord, whose mercies numberless o’er all thy works prevail David
20. ’Tis all in vain Jonathan
21. A serpent, in my bosom warm’d … Has he escap’d my rage? Saul
22. Capricious man, in humour lost Merab
23. Oh filial piety! oh sacred friendship! … No, cruel father, no! Jonathan
24. Preserve him for the glory of thy name, thy people’s safety chorus
25. Envy! eldest-born of Hell! chorus
26. Ah, dearest friend … But sooner Jordan’s stream … My father comes Jonathan
27. Hast thou obey’d my orders … Sin not, o King, against the youth Saul, Jonathan
28. As great Jehovah lives, I swear, the youth shall not be slain Saul
29. From cities storm’d, and battles won, what glory can accrue? Jonathan

CD4 SAUL

1. Appear, my friend. — No more imagine danger Jonathan, Saul
2. Your words, o King, my loyal heart with double ardour fire David
3. Yes, he shall wed my daughter! Saul
4. A father’s will has authoriz’d my love Michal
5. O fairest of ten thousand fair Michal, David
6. Is there a man, who all his ways directs, his God alone to please? chorus
7. Concerto
8. Thy father is as cruel, and as false, as thou art kind and true … At persecution I can laugh David, Michal
9. Whom dost thou seek? and who has sent thee hither … No, no, let the guilty tremble at ev’ry thought of danger near Michal, Doeg
10. Mean as he was, he is my brother now … Author of peace Merab
11. Symphony
12. The time at length is come Saul
13. Where is the son of Jesse? Saul, Jonathan
14. Oh fatal consequence of rage, by reason uncontroll’d chorus
15. Wretch that I am! … ’Tis said, here lives a woman Saul
16. With me what wouldst thou? … Infernal spirits, by whose pow’r Witch, Saul
17. Why hast thou forc’d me from the realms of peace Samuel, Saul
18. Symphony
19. Whence com’st thou? … Impious wretch, of race accurst! David, Amalekite
20. Dead March
21. Mourn, Israel, mourn chorus
22. Oh let it not in Gath be heard … From this unhappy day no more, ye Gilboan hills Michal
23. Eagles were not so swift as they chorus
24. In sweetest harmony they liv’d … Oh fatal day! Merab, David, chorus
25. Ye men of Judah, weep no more High Priest
26. Gird on thy sword, thou man of might chorus

CD5 ALEXANDER’S FEAST

1. Overture
2. ’Twas at the royal feast, for Persia won by Philip’s warlike son tenor
3. Happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair soprano, tenor, chorus
4. Timotheus, plac’d on high amid the tuneful quire tenor
5. The song began from Jove soprano
6. The list’ning crowd admire the lofty sound chorus
7. With ravish’d ears the monarch hears soprano
8. The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musician sung tenor
9. Bacchus, ever fair and young … Bacchus’ blessings are a treasure bass, chorus
10. Sooth’d with the sound, the king grew vain tenor
11. He chose a mournful Muse soprano
12. He sung Darius, great and good, by too severe a fate fall’n soprano
13. With downcast looks the joyless victor sate soprano
14. Behold Darius, great and good, by too severe a fate fall’n chorus
15. The mighty master smil’d to see that Love was in the next degree tenor
16. Softly sweet in Lydian measures soon he sooth’d the soul soprano
17. War, he sung, is toil and trouble tenor
18. The many rend the skies with loud applause chorus
19. The Prince, unable to conceal his pain soprano
20. The many rend the skies with loud applause chorus

CD6 ALEXANDER’S FEAST/ODE FOR ST CECILIA’S DAY

1. Now strike the golden Lyre again! … Break his bands of sleep asunder … Hark, hark! the horrid sound tenor, chorus
2. Revenge, revenge, Timotheus cries bass
3. Give the vengeance due to the valiant crew tenor
4. The princes applaud with a furious joy tenor
5. Thais led the way, to light him to his prey … The princes applaud with a furious joy soprano, chorus
6. Thus, long ago, ere heaving Bellows learned to blow … At last divine Cecilia came, inventress of the vocal frame tenor, chorus
7. Let old Timotheus yield the prize tenor, bass
8. Let old Timotheus yield the prize, or both divide the crown soprano, tenor, bass, chorus
9. Overture
10. From Harmony, from heav’nly Harmony chorus
11. What passion cannot Music raise and quell! soprano
12. The Trumpet’s loud clangor excites us to arms tenor, chorus
13. La Marche
14. The soft complaining Flute in dying notes soprano
15. Sharp Violins proclaim their jealous pangs and desperation tenor
16. But oh! what art can teach… the sacred Organ’s praise! soprano
17. Orpheus could lead the savage race soprano
18. But bright Cecilia rais’d the wonder high’r soprano
19. As from the pow’r of sacred lays the spheres began to move chorus

CD7 BELSHAZZAR

1. Overture
2. Vain, fluctuating state of human empire! Nitocris
3. Thou, God most high Nitocris
4. The fate of Babylon, I fear, is nigh … O much belov’d of God and man! say Nitocris, Daniel
5. Lament not thus, oh Queen, in vain! Daniel
6. Behold, by Persia’s hero made in ample form Babylonians
7. Well may they laugh, from meagre famine safe … Oh memory! still bitter to my soul! Gobrias, Cyrus
8. Oppress’d with never-ceasing grief Gobrias
9. Dry those unavailing tears Cyrus
10. Be comforted … Methought, as on the bank of deep Euphrates … Now tell me, Gobrias Cyrus, Gobrias
11. Behold the monstrous human beast Gobrias
12. Can you then think it strange … Great God! who, yet but darkly known … My friends, be confident, and boldly enter upon this high exploit Cyrus
13. All empires upon God depend Medes and Persians
14. Oh sacred oracles of truth! Daniel
15. Rejoice, my countrymen: the time draws near … For long ago, whole ages ere this Cyrus yet was born … “Thus saith the Lord to Cyrus, his anointed…” Daniel
16. Sing, oh ye heav’ns! Jews

CD8 BELSHAZZAR

1. Let festal joy triumphant reign! Belshazzar
2. For you, my friends, the nobles of my court Belshazzar, Nitocris
3. The leafy honours of the field Nitocris
4. It is the custom, I may say, the law Belshazzar, Nitocris
5. Recall, oh king! thy rash command Jews
6. They tell you true Nitocris, Belshazzar
7. Oh dearer than my life, forbear! Nitocris, Belshazzar
8. By slow degrees the wrath of God Jews
9.  See, from his post Euphrates flies! … Why, faithless river, dost thou leave thy charge … Euphrates hath his task fulfill’d … Of things on earth, proud man must own Persians
10. You see, my friends, a path into the city lies open … Amaz’d to find the foe so near Cyrus
11. To arms, to arms! No more delay! Persians
12. Ye tutelar gods of our empire, look down Babylonians
13. Let the deep bowl thy praise confess … Where is the God of Judah’s boasted pow’r? … Help, help the king! … Oh dire portentous sight! … Call all my Wise Men Belshazzar, Babylonians
14. Ye sages! welcome always to your king … Alas! too hard a task the king imposes Belshazzar, wise men
15. Oh misery! oh terror! Hopeless grief! Babylonians

CD9 BELSHAZZAR

1. Oh king, live for ever! … Art thou that Daniel of the Jewish captives? Nitocris, Belshazzar
2. No! to thyself thy trifles be … Yet to obey his dread command … Thou, o king, hast lifted up thyself against the Lord … Oh sentence too severe! and yet too sure! Daniel, Nitocris
3. Regard, oh son, my flowing tears Nitocris
4. Oh God of truth! oh faithful guide! … You, Gobrias, lead directly to the palace Cyrus
5. Oh glorious prince! Persians
6. Alternate hopes and fears distract my mind Nitocris
7. Fain would I hope — is there not room for hope? … Can the black Aethiop change his skin? Nitocris, Daniel
8. My hopes revive — here Arioch comes Nitocris, Arioch, Messenger
9. Bel boweth down! Jews
10. Martial Symphony
11. To pow’r immortal my first thanks are due Gobrias
12. Be it thy care, good Gobrias, to find out the queen … Destructive War, thy limits know Cyrus
13. Great victor, at your feet I bow Nitocris, Cyrus
14. Say, venerable prophet, is there aught in Cyrus’ pow’r Cyrus, Daniel
15. Tell it out among the heathen, that the Lord is King … Yes, I will build thy city, God of Israel all, Cyrus
16. I will magnify thee, oh God my king! all

These five splendid works for vocal soloists, chorus and orchestra were composed by Handel in the 1730s and 1740s. Treating both sacred and secular themes, they are inspired by the same dramatic genius that made Handel a master of opera. Conducting a dazzling array of soloists and Concentus Musicus Wien, the groundbreaking ensemble he established in the early 1950s, Nikolaus Harnoncourt unfolds their narratives with his customary flair, precision and immediacy.