| George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) - Esther (1991) |
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| Track List | |||||
| 49:25 | |||||
| 01 | Scene 1: Ouverture; Scene 1: Recitative "'Tis greater far to spare" (Habdonah, Haman) | 07:45 | |||
| 02 | Scene 1: Aria "Pluck root and branch from out the land" (Haman) | 02:09 | |||
| 03 | Scene 1: Chorus "Shall we the God of Israel fear?" | 01:54 | |||
| 04 | Scene 2: Aria "Tune your harps to cheerful strains" (First Israelite) | 03:55 | |||
| 05 | Scene 2: Chorus "Shall we of servitude complain" | 01:26 | |||
| 06 | Scene 2: Aria "Praise the Lord with cheerful noise" (Israelite woman) | 06:08 | |||
| 07 | Scene 2: Aria "Sing songs of praise, bow down the knee" (Second Israelite); Scene 3: Recitative "How have our sins provoked the Lord!" (Priest) | 06:11 | |||
| 08 | Scene 3: "Chorus "Ye sons of Israel mourn" | 02:05 | |||
| 09 | Scene 3: Aria "O Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide" (Priest); Scene 4: Recitative "Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?" (Esther) | 09:34 | |||
| 10 | Scene 4: Aria "Dread not, righteous Queen, the danger" (Mordecai) | 03:45 | |||
| 11 | Scene 4: Aria "Tears assist me, pity moving" (Esther) | 03:01 | |||
| 12 | Scene 4: Chorus "Save us, O Lord" | 01:32 | |||
| 47:06 | |||||
| 01 | Scene 5: Recitative "Who dares intrude into our presence" (Ahasuerus) | 01:08 | |||
| 02 | Scene 5: Duet "Who calls my parting soul from Death?" "Awake, my soul, my life, my breath!" (Esther, Ahasuerus) | 02:34 | |||
| 03 | Scene 5: Aria "O beauteous Queen" (Ahasuerus); Scene 5: Recitative "If I find favour in thy sight" (Esther) | 07:38 | |||
| 04 | Scene 5: Aria "How can I stay when love invites" (Ahasuerus) | 03:54 | |||
| 05 | Scene 5: Chorus "Virtue, truth and innocence" | 02:33 | |||
| 06 | Scene 5: Arioso "Jehovah, crown'd with glory bright" (Priest); Scene 5: Chorus "He comes, he comes to end our woes"; Scene 6: Recitative "Now, O Queen, thy suit declare" (Ahasuerus) | 06:58 | |||
| 07 | Scene 6: Arioso "Turn not, O Queen, thy face away" (Haman) | 02:10 | |||
| 08 | Scene 6: Aria "Flatt'ring tongue, no more I hear thee!" (Esther); Scene 6: Recitative "Guards, seize the traitor" (Ahasuerus) | 05:11 | |||
| 09 | Scene 6: Aria "How art thou fall'n from thy height!" (Haman) | 04:15 | |||
| 10 | Scene 6: Chorus "The Lord our enemy has slain"; Scene 6: Chorus "For ever blessed be thy holy name"; Scene 6: Solo "Let Israel songs of joy repeat" | 10:45 | |||
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| Notes |
| Esther: Patrizia Kwella
Ahasuerus: Anthony Rolfe Johnson Mordecai: Ian Partridge Haman: David Thomas Israelite woman: Emma Kirkby First Israelite: Paul Elliot Second Israelite: Andrew King Habdonah: Andrew King Officer: Andrew King Priest: Drew Mintner Westminster Cathedral Boys Choir Notes, illustrations, text and translations Essay: Anthony Hicks On authentic instruments |