Credits:

Harnoncourt, Nikolaus/Cmw

Description:

The heart of Handel's late period! The true value of Handel's works revived with the dynamism of Alarcon's conducting! The number of new recordings of Handel's great works that challenge the existence of Handel's great works from French-speaking countries seems to be steadily increasing. In addition to the success of such greats as Rousset, Niquet, and Christie, the Argentinean-born Alarcon, who is active mainly in Belgium and has produced a series of remarkable performances of 17th-century works, has made his masterpiece "Samson" a must-see. Although Ricercar is a long-established label celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, it has released surprisingly few Handel works, and this is an album that should not be overlooked. The new field of composition in which Handel, who had fallen on hard times due to the poor performance of his operas on the London music stage, was once again glorified was "oratorio with an English libretto that can be easily understood by the audience. The main character is Samson, a great man who was captured because of a secret he told his Philistine wife in a bedtime story in the Old Testament "Judges" and temporarily blocked from using his great strength.This great work, which centers on the story of Samson, who overcame his secular love and sacrificed himself to destroy his enemies out of loyalty to God and the people of Israel, was composed shortly after "Messiah" and has been loved with unprecedented success since its premiere in 1743. Surprisingly few recordings of the entire work have been made, but this is a new recording of Alarcon's interpretation of the work, which is full of the lively emotions of Monteverdi and other ancient Mediterranean music. The new generation of singers is also remarkable, and the performance of this work is so full and rich that it will make you realize a new frontier in the world of European classical music. Naxos Japan

Tracklisting:

1.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Overture
2.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 1: Recitative: This Day, a Solemn Feast to Dagon Held
3.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 1: Chorus: Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound!
4.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 1: Air: Ye Men of Gaza, Hither Bring
5.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 1: Chorus: Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound!
6.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 1: Recitative: Why by an Angel Was My Birth Foretold; Air: Torments, alas, Are Not Confined
7.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 2: Recitative: Oh, Change Beyond Report; Air: Oh, Mirror of Our Fickle State!
8.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 2: Recitative: Whom Have I to Complain of But Myself
9.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 2: Air: Total Eclipse!
10.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 2: Accompagnato: Since Light so Necessary Is to Life
11.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 2: Chorus: O first Created Beam!
12.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 2: Recitative: Ye See, My Friends, How Woes Enclose Me Round; Scene 3: Recitative: Brethren and Men of Dan; Accompagnato: Oh, Miserable Change!
13.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 3: Air: Thy Glorious Deeds Inspir'd My Tongue
14.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 3: Accompagnato: To Worrow Now I Tune
15.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 3: Recitative: Justly These Evils Have Befall'n Thy Son
16.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 3: Accompagnato: My Genial Spirits Droop, My Hopes Are Fled; Arioso: Then Long Eternity Shall Greet Your Bliss
17.Samson HWV 57~Act One: Scene 3: Chorus: Then Round About the Starry Throne
18.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 1: Recitative: Trust Yet in God!; Recitative: My Evils Hopeless Are!; Air: Return, O God of Hosts! Behold; Chorus of Israelites: To Dust His Glory They Would Tread
19.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 2: Recitative: But Who Is This, That So Bedeck'd and Gay
20.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 2: Recitative: With Doubtful Feet
21.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 2: Air: With Plaintive Notes and Am'rous Moan
22.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 2: Recitative: Did Love Constrain Thee?
23.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 2: Air: Your Charms to Ruin Led the Way
24.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 2: Recitative: Forgive What's Done, nor Think of What's Past Cure
25.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 2: Air: My Faith and Truth, O Samson; Chorus of Virgins: Her Faith and Truth, O Samson
26.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 2: Air: To Fleeting Pleasures Make Your Court
27.Samson HWV 57~Act Two: Scene 2: Chorus of Virgins: Her Faith and Truth, Oh Samson
28.Samson HWV 57~Act Three: Scene 2: Recitative: Noise Call You This?; Scene 3: Recitative: Where Shall I Run
29.Samson HWV 57~Act Three: Scene 2: Air & Chorus: Ye Sons of Israel, Now Lament
30.Samson HWV 57~Act Three: Scene 2: Symphony: Dead March
31.Samson HWV 57~Act Three: Scene 2: Recitative: The Body Comes
32.Samson HWV 57~Act Three: Scene 2: Air & Chorus: Glorious Hero, May Thy Grave; Solo & Chorus: The Virgins Too Shall on Their Feastful Dayse
33.Samson HWV 57~Act Three: Scene 2: Recitativo & Chorus of Virgins: May Evr'y Hero Fal Like Thee
34.Samson HWV 57~Act Three: Scene 2: Chorus of Virgins: Bring the Laurels, Bring the Bays; Chorus of Israelites: Glorious Hero
35.Samson HWV 57~Act Three: Scene 2: Recitative: Come, Come! No Time for Lamentation Now