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Handel: Belshazzar

Allan Clayton (Belshazzar, King of Babylon), Rosemary Joshua (Nitocris), Iestyn Davies (Daniel, Hebrew Prophet), Caitlin Hulcup (Cyrus: Persian Prince), Jonathan Lemalu (Gobrias, Assyrian Nobleman), Jean-Yves Ravoux (Arioch, Babylonian Lord), Geoffroy Buffière, Thibaut Lenaerts, Michael-Loughlin Smith,...

Here is an orchestral sound of defiant grandeur expressive and uninhibited choral singing, an energy suggestive of live performance, and a quirky balance that highlights a sinuous viola line... — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2013 More…

Release Date: 28th Oct 2013
Catalogue No: AF001
Label: Les Arts Florissants Editions
Length: 2 hours 46 minutes

Handel: Belshazzar

Work length2:46:00

$45.20

$56.50

$65.55

Iestyn Davies (soloist), Jonathan Lemalu (soloist), Caitlin Hulcup (soloist), Allan Clayton (soloist), Rosemary Joshua (soloist)
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie

Overture

Track length2:40

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Accompagnato ed Arioso ' Vain Fluctuating State of Human Empire! '

Track length4:28

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Aria ' Thou, God Most High, and Thou Alone '

Track length4:36

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Recitative ' The Fate of Babylon, I Fear, Is Nigh. ' ' O Much Belov'd '

Track length1:14

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Air ' Lament Not Thus, O Queen, in Vain! '

Track length4:58

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Chorus of Babylonians ' Behold By Persia'S Hero Made '

Track length2:27

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Recitative ' Well May They Laugh, from Meagre Famine Safe ' - Accompagnato ' Oh Memory '

Track length1:27

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Aria ' Opprest With Never Ceasing Grief '

Track length3:57

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Aria ' Dry Those Unavailing Tears '

Track length1:54

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Recitative ' Be Comforted: Safe Tho' the Tyrant Seem ' - Accompagnato ' Methought, As On the Bank of Deep Euphrates '

Track length3:58

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Aria ' Behold the Monstrous Human Beast '

Track length3:47

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Recitative ' Can You Then Think It Strange, If Drown'd in Wine ' - Aria ' Great God! Who Yet But Darkly Known '

Track length4:09

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Chorus ' All Empires Upon God Depend '

Track length3:27

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Arioso ' O Sacred Oracles of Truth! ' - Aria ' Amaz'd to Find the Foe So Near ' - Chorus of Persians ' to Arms, to Arms, No More Delay '

Track length4:53

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Accompagnato ' Rejoice, My Countrymen: the Time Draws Near ' - Recitative ' For Long Ago ' - Accompagnato ' Thus Saith the Lord to Cyrus His Anointed '

Track length3:00

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Chorus ' Sing, O Ye Heav'Ns, for the Lord Hath Done It '

Track length4:16

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Aria ' Let Festal Joy Triumphant Reign ' - Recitative ' For You, My Friends, the Nobles of My Court '

Track length6:45

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Aria ' The Leafy Honours of the Field '

Track length7:09

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Recitative ' It Is the Custom; I May Say, the Law '

Track length1:34

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Chorus of Jews ' Recall, O King, Thy Rash Command '

Track length2:32

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Recitative ' They Tell You True; Nor Can You Be to Learn '

Track length1:18

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Duet ' O Dearer Than My Life, Forbear '

Track length4:44

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Chorus of Jews ' By Slow Degrees the Wrath of God to Its Meridian Height Ascends '

Track length6:08

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Chorus ' See, from His Post Euphrates Flies! ' - Semichorus ' Why Faithless River Dost Thou Leave ' - Semichorus ' Euphrates Hath His Task Fulfil'd ' - Chorus ' Of Things On Earth, Proud Man Must Own '

Track length6:32

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Recitative ' You See, My Friends, a Path Into the City ' - Aria ' Amaz'd to Find the Foe So Near ' - Chorus of Persians ' to Arms, to Arms, No More Delay '

Track length6:07

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Chorus ' Ye Tutelar Gods of Our Empire, Look Down '

Track length2:52

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Aria ' Let the Deep Bowl Thy Praise Confess '

Track length2:35

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Accompagnato and Chorus ' Where Is the God of Judah'S Boasted Pow'R? ' - Recitative ' Call All Our Wisemen, Sorcerers, Chaldeans '

Track length2:41

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Symphony

Track length1:45

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Recitative ' Ye Sages, Welcome Always to Your King ' - Trio ' Alas! Too Hard a Task the King Imposes ' - Chorus ' O Misery! O Terror! Hopeless Grief! '

Track length2:11

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Recitative ' O King, Live for Ever! ' - Aria ' No: to Thyself Thy Trifles Be '

Track length2:58

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Accompagnato ' Yet to Obey His Dread Command ' ' Thou, O King, Hast Lifted Up Thyself ' - Recitative ' O Sentence Too Severe! and Yet Too Sure! '

Track length3:53

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Aria ' Regard, O Son, My Flowing Tears '

Track length6:21

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Aria ' O God of Truth! O Faithful Guide! ' - Recitative ' You, Gobrias, Lead Directly to the Palace '

Track length5:16

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Chorus ' O Glorious Prince! Thrice Happy They '

Track length4:56

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Aria ' Alternate Hopes and Fears Distract My Mind ' - Recitative ' Fain Would I Hope. Is There Not Room to Hope? '

Track length4:42

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Aria ' Can the Black Æthiop Change His Skin? ' Recitative ' My Hopes Revive, Here Arioch Comes: By This '

Track length3:25

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Chorus of Jews ' Bel Boweth Down! Nebo Stoopeth! '

Track length1:28

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Aria ' I Thank Thee, Sesach, Thy Sweet Pow'R ' - a Martial Symphony

Track length2:04

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Aria ' To Pow'R Immortal My First Thanks Are Due ' - Recitative ' Be It Thy Care, Good Gobrias, to Find Out '

Track length2:22

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Aria ' Destructive War Thy Limits Know '

Track length2:20

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Duett ' Great Victor, At Your Feet I Bow ' - Recitative ' Say, Venerable Prophet, Is There Ought '

Track length5:58

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Soli and Chorus ' Tell It Out Among the Heathen, That the Lord Is King. '

Track length1:37

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Accompagnato ' Yes, I Will Build Thy City, God of Israel '

Track length1:37

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Anthem ' I Will Magnify Thee, O God My King, '

Track length6:59

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About
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A new label by an Artist for the Artists; an outstanding first release.

“Belshazzar was first performed in 1745, under difficult conditions. Ever the pragmatist, Handel did not hesitate to revise his work to adapt to the various constraints of the premiere and its subsequent revivals. Surprisingly unscrupulous, he frequently accepted the most dreadful compromises involving mutilating cuts, transpositions, sacrificing his inspiration in order to facilitate a performance. For this recording we have chosen what we consider to be the most successful of the various versions of Belshazzar given in his lifetime, resulting in the restoration of the piece in all its splendour, with the best of the music and a coherent libretto. I am particularly pleased that the first production for our new label does justice to a libretto whose subject is so relevant today: the decline of a once glorious society and the ephemeral nature of Empire. In Belshazzar everything hits the spot: the emotional power, the vivid imagery, the contemporary resonance. How could one not be struck by the majestic architecture of the choruses; by the characterisation of Belshazzar himself, irascible, alcoholic, affronting the divine word? Andwho could not be deeply moved by Nicrotis’grief at witnessing the downfall of her son, or by the extraordinary complicity that develops between herself and Cyrus, the conquering King of the persians? From beginning to end the piece is carried along by Jennen’s humanity and the universality of Handel’s music. I have opted for a very fine and entirely Anglophone cast. All of us had our hearts set on restoring the dramatic force and emotional power to this magnificent music. Other considerations influenced our choice — the very scale of Belshazzar made it possible to draw on a large number of musicians and singers who have been part of Les Arts Florissants for many ears, ensuring the recording bears the unmistakeable stamp of the company” William Christie

Bonus Essay by Jean Echenoz: In Babylon

A specially commissioned work which draws the reader deep into the ancient, majestic city, the seat of power of Belshazzar the King. Printed apart on special paper and included in the boxset, alongside the regular booklet.

Artists

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

Reviews

Christmas 2013

Here is an orchestral sound of defiant grandeur expressive and uninhibited choral singing, an energy suggestive of live performance, and a quirky balance that highlights a sinuous viola line here, a pop of bassoon there… with a vivid timbral and dynamic range… the whole is so dynamic as to raise the Handelian bar.

December 2013

[Clayton's] characterisation astutely descends from carefree charm to self-destructive sneering...sweetly compassionate singing from Iestyn Davies...Hulcup is ideally authoritative and articulate as the Persian monarch Cyrus...The choir of Les Arts Florissants acquit themselves with full honours in Handel's imaginative dramatic narrative choruses

16th May 2014

the whole crew know their roles inside out and this comes across in the recording...[Clayton's] warm, bright tenor sounds almost heroic at times...Joshua captures all of the character’s contradictions and traumas...Iestyn Davies is predictably superb as Daniel...The orchestral playing is top notch throughout.

10th January 2014

Clayton’s bright, impetuous characterisation of Belshazzar stands as one of the many enlivening features...[Christie's] experienced conducting, coupled with clearly articulated choral singing and lively orchestral playing, finds the pulse of the oratorio’s varied pacing and temperament with a sure, vitalising hand.

13th December 2013

Belshazzar is delivered with ringing zest by Allan Clayton, Rosemary Joshua and other top Brits, and an orchestra forever on the boil

New York Times 1st January 2014

a vivid, expressive reading

Early Music Today December 2013

The soloists...sing superbly, while Les Arts Florissants and William Christie do sumptuous Justice to the music’s grandeur and beauty. A triumphant debut!

Opera Now

Everything is as accurate as you’d expect, but too much drama and spirit is sacrificed in the pursuit of directionless beauty...Davies turns his astonishing voice to a mellifluous Daniel, Allan Clayton is a ringing, forthright Belshazzar and Jonathan Lemalu sings some of Handel’s most characterful bass music with much expression.

Handel: Belshazzar

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