Handel: Jephtha & Arias

Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Jephtha), Margaret Marshall (Iphis), Alfreda Hodgson (Storgè), Paul Esswood (Hamor), Christopher Keyte (Zebul) & Emma Kirkby (Angel), Robert Tear (tenor)

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Chorus of St. Martin in the Fields & Southend Boys’ Choir, Neville Marriner

dramatically alert...Robert Tear shines in 'Look down, Harmonious Saint' — BBC Music Magazine, March 2012, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 18th Jul 2011
Catalogue No: ELQ4804916
Label: Eloquence

This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched.

Handel: Handel : Jephta1

Overture

Menuet

It must be so

Air : Pour forth no more

Chorus: No more to Ammon's god and king

But Jephta comes

Air : Virtue my soul

'Twill be a painful separation

Happy this embassy

I'll suits the voice

I go

What mean these doubtful fancies

'Tis said

Some dire event

Say, my dear mother

The smiling dawn

When His loud voice

Handel: Handel_ Jephtha2

ACT II: Recitative

Chorus

Air

Recitative

Air

Recitative

Chorus

Symphony

Recitative, Air

Recitative

Concitato, Air

Recitative, Air

Quartet

Recitative, Air

Accompagnato

Chorus

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

Track 4

Track 5

Track 6

Track 7

Track 8

Track 9

Track 10

Track 11

Track 12

Track 13

Track 14

Track 15

Track 16

Track 17

Track 18

About
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About

Jephtha was the last full-length composition that Handel wrote. (The Triumph of Time and Truth of 1757 was almost entirely made up of pre-existing music.) Given this fact, and also that the actual writing of it was an inordinately laborious task for Handel as he fought with rapidly failing eyesight, its incomparable depth of expression and personal commitment make the whole work a profound and magnificent conclusion to his life’s output. Based on a story from Judges XI, it tells of Jephtha leading the Israelites against the Ammonites and his ultimate sacrifice. This rare recording by Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields has been reissued one CD only once, in 1990, and featuring a galaxy of British vocal stars – the late Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Alfreda Hodgson, Paul Esswood and Emma Kirkby, among them. Long unavailable, the recording is now restored to circulation, re-coupled with three arias - Meine Seele hört im Sehen, Süβe Stille and Look down, harmonious Saint, sung by the late Robert Tear. Original notes and full texts are included.

Reviews

March 2012

dramatically alert...Robert Tear shines in 'Look down, Harmonious Saint'

The orchestral playing is impeccably stylish and alive, and the soloists can hardly be faulted. Margaret Marshall … is outstanding and in the title-role Anthony Rolfe Johnson sings his coloratura arias with admirable precision

Marriner’s performance, helped by the bright tones of boy trebles in the choruses, is refreshing from first to last, well sprung but direct in style. The recording is first rate....Robert Tear is in excellent voice and the recording has all the atmospheric warmth one associates with Argo’s recordings of the ASMF in St. John’s, Smith Square

Handel: Jephtha & Arias

3 CDs

Contents

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