Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Baroque master George Frideric Handel's compositions with this comprehensive collection, the seventh volume in the esteemed Handel Edition series. Released in 2009 under Warner Classics International, this album spans a diverse range of genres within the classical realm, including choral and opera, offering a total duration of 1 hour and 53 minutes of exquisite music.
At the heart of this collection lies the monumental oratorio "Saul," HWV 53, a dramatic retelling of the biblical story of King Saul and his complex relationship with the young David. The album features a complete performance of "Saul," showcasing Handel's unparalleled skill in crafting intricate vocal lines and powerful choral passages. The work is divided into three acts, each filled with arias, recitatives, and choruses that bring the narrative to life with vivid intensity.
In addition to "Saul," this volume includes a selection of Handel's most celebrated works, each offering a unique glimpse into his musical genius. "Alexander's Feast" is a stunning example of Handel's ability to blend vocal and instrumental elements, while "Ode for St. Cecilia's Day" is a celebration of music itself, featuring some of Handel's most inventive and uplifting compositions. The "Utrecht Te Deum" showcases Handel's mastery of large-scale choral writing, and "Apollo e Dafne" offers a taste of his operatic prowess. The album concludes with highlights from "Giulio Cesare," one of Handel's most beloved operas, featuring some of his most memorable arias and ensembles.
This album is a testament to Handel's enduring legacy and his profound impact on the world of classical music. Whether you are a seasoned enthusiast or a newcomer to Handel's work, this collection offers a rich and rewarding listening experience, showcasing the composer's unparalleled ability to blend drama, beauty, and technical virtuosity.
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1: Sinfonia. Allegro - LarghettoGeorge Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 1: Chorus. "How Excellent Thy Name, Oh Lord" (Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 1: Aria. "An Infant Rais'd by Thy Command" (Soprano)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Elizabeth Gale, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 1: Trio. "Along the Monster Atheist Strode" (Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Helmut Wildhaber, Paul Esswood, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 1: Chorus. "The Youth Inspired by Thee, Oh Lord" - Chorus. "Hallelujah" (Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 2: Recitative. "He Comes, he Comes!" - Aria. "Oh God-Like Youth" (Michal)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Elizabeth Gale, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 2: Recitative. "Behold, Oh King" - Aria. "Oh King, Your Favours with Delight" (Abner, Saul, David)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Helmut Wildhaber, Paul Esswood, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 2: Recitative. "Oh Early Piety" (Jonathan)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 2: Aria. "What Abject Thoughts a Prince Can Have!" (Merab)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Julia Varady, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 2: Recitative. "Yet Think, on Whom This Honour You Bestow" - Aria. "Birth and Fortune I Despise" (Merab, Jonathan)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Julia Varady, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 2: Recitative. "Thou, Merab, First in Birth" - Aria. "My Soul Rejects the Thought with Scorn" (Saul, Merab)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Julia Varady, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 2: Aria. "See, See, with a Scournful Air" - Aria. "Ah! Lovely Youth" (Michal)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Elizabeth Gale, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 3: Sinfonia. Andante - AllegroGeorge Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 3: Recitative. "Already See the Daughters of the Land" (Michal)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Elizabeth Gale, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 3: Chorus. "Welcome, Welcome, Mighty King!" (Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 3: Accompagnato. "What Do I Hear?" - Chorus. "David His Ten Thousands Slew" - Accompagnato. "To Him Ten Thousands" - Aria. "With Rage I Shall Burst" (Saul, Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 4: Recitative. "Imprudent Women!" - Aria. "Fell Rage and Black Despair Posses'd" (Jonathan, Michal)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Elizabeth Gale, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 5: Recitative. "Racked with Infernal Pains" (Abner)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Helmut Wildhaber, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 5: Aria. "O Lord, Whose Mercies Numberless" (David)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Paul Esswood, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 5: Recitative. "Tis All in Vain" (Jonathan)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 5: Aria. "A Serpent, in My Bosom Warmed" - Recitative. "Has He Escaped My Rage?" (Saul)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 5: Aria. "Capricious Man, in Humour Lost" (Merab)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Julia Varady, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 5: Accompagnato. "Oh Filial Piety!" - Aria. "No, No Cruel Father, No!" (Jonathan)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 1, Scene 5: Chorus. "Preserve Him for the Glory of Thy Name" (Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 1: Chorus. "Envy! Eldest Born of Hell!" (Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 2: Recitative. "Ah! Dearest Friend" - Aria. "But Sooner Jordan's Stream" - Recitative. "My Father Comes" (Jonathan)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 3: Recitative. "Hast Thou Obey'd My Orders" - Aria. "Sin Not, Oh King, Against the Youth" (Saul, Jonathan)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 3: Aria. "As Great Jehovah Lives" (Saul)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 3: Aria. "From Cities Stormed" (Jonathan)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 4: Recitative. "Appear, My Friend" (Jonathan, Saul)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 4: Aria. "Your Words, Oh King" (David)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Paul Esswood, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 4: Recitative. "Yes, He Shall Wed My Daughter" (Saul)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 5: Recitative. "A Father's Will Has Authorized My Love" (Michal)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Elizabeth Gale, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 5: Duet. "Oh Fairest of Ten Thousand Fair" (Michal, David)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Elizabeth Gale, Paul Esswood, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 5: Chorus. "Is There a Man?" (Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 6: Sinfonia. Largo - AllegroGeorge Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 6: Recitative. "Thy Father Is as Cruel..." - Duet. "At Persecution I Can Laugh" (David, Michal)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Elizabeth Gale, Paul Esswood, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 7: Recitative. "Whom Dost Thou Seek?" - Aria. "No, No Let the Guilty Tremble" (Michal, Doeg)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Elizabeth Gale, Helmut Wildhaber, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 7: Recitative. "Mean as He Was" - Aria. "Author of Peace" (Merab)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Julia Varady, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 8: Sinfonia. AllegroGeorge Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 9: Accompagnato. "The Time at Length Is Come" (Saul)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 10: Recitative. "Where Is the Son of Jesse?" (Saul, Jonathan)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 2, Scene 10: Chorus. "O Fatal Consequence" (Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 3, Scene 1: Accompagnato. "Wretch That I am!" - Recitative. "Tis Said, Here Lives a Woman" (Saul)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 3, Scene 2: Recitative. "With Me What Would'st Thou?" - Aria. "Infernal Spirits" (Witch, Saul)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Helmut Wildhaber, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 3, Scene 3: Accompagnato. "Why Hast Thou Forced Me" (Samuel, Saul)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Matthias Hölle, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act III: Sinfonia. AllegroGeorge Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 3, Scene 4: Recitative. "Whence Comst Thou?" - Aria. "Impious Wrecht" (David, An Amalekite)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Helmut Wildhaber, Paul Esswood, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 3, Scene 5: Dead MarchGeorge Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien
Handel: Saul, HWV 53, Act 3, Scene 5: Chorus. "Mourn, Israel" (Israelites)George Frideric Handel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Concentus Musicus Wien
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