HANDEL Saul, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale, Nicholas McGegan, 2019 Performance Version

In continued efforts of bringing extraordinary musical experiences to audiences everywhere amidst the COVID-19 crisis, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale presents a live recording of Handel's Saul from April 2019 conducted by Nicholas McGegan.

Recorded live at First Congregational Church, Berkeley, California, April 6 & 7, 2019. Recording production, engineering, editing, and mastering by David v.R. Bowles (Swineshead Productions, LLC). All rights reserved. © ℗ 2020 Philharmonia Baroque Productions. https://philharmonia.org. Libretto, biographies and more available at https://philharmonia.org/saul

George Frideric Handel - Saul (HWV 53)

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
(in order of appearance)

Merab Yulia Van Doren, soprano
Michal Sherezade Panthaki, soprano
Abner Jonathan Smucker, tenor
Saul Daniel Okulitch, bass-baritone
David Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, countertenor
Jonathan Aaron Sheehan, tenor
Doeg Christian Pursell, bass-baritone
Witch of Endor Jonathan Smucker
Samuel Christian Pursell
Amalekite Jonathan Smucker
Chorus of Israelites Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director

ACT 1
00:00 - Overture
09:59 - Chorus: How excellent Thy name, O Lord
12:49 - Air: An infant rais'd by Thy command
14:11 - Chorus: Along the monster atheist strode
15:19 - Chorus: The youth inspir'd by Thee, O Lord
17:24 - Chorus: How excellent Thy name, O Lord
20:03 - Recitative/Air: He comes, he comes!/O godlike youth, by all confess'd
23:14 - Recitative: Behold, O king, the brave, victorious youth
24:08 - Air: O king, your favours with delight
28:08 - Recitative: Oh, early piety! Oh, modest merit!
28:30 - Air: What abject thoughts a prince can have!
30:38 - Recitative: Yet think on whom this honour you bestow
30:52 - Air: Birth and fortune I despise!
33:05 - Recitative: Thou, Merab, first in birth, be first in honour
33:24 - Air: My soul rejects the thought with scorn
34:40 - Air: See, with what a scornful air
35:45 - Air: Ah, lovely youth, wast thou design'd
36:34 - Symphony pour les Carillons
37:40 - Recitative: Already see the daughters of the land
37:59 - Chorus: Welcome, welcome, mighty king!
39:32 - Accompagnato: What do I hear?
39:59 - Chorus: David his ten thousands slew
40:32 - Accompagnato: To him ten thousands! and to me but thousands?
40:49 - Air: With rage I shall burst his praises to hear!
42:13 - Recitative: Imprudent women! Your ill-tim’d comparisons
43:03 - Air: Fell rage and black despair possess'd
45:46 - Recitative: Racked with infernal pains, ev'n now the king
46:05 - Air: O Lord, whose mercies numberless
50:17 - Recitative: 'Tis all in vain; his fury still continues
50:33 - Air: A serpent, in my bosom warm'd
52:40 - Recitative: Has he escap'd my rage?
53:01 - Air: Capricious man, in humour lost
56:57 - Accompagnato: O filial piety! O sacred friendship!
58:12 - Air: No, cruel father, no!
59:29 - Chorus: Preserve him for the glory of Thy name

ACT 2
1:02:45 - Chorus: Envy, eldest born of hell!
1:05:16 - Recitative: Hast thou obey'd my orders
1:05:52 - Air: Sin not, O king, against the youth
1:07:49 - Air: As great Jehovah lives, I swear
1:09:04 - Air: From cities storm’d, and battles won
1:11:03 - Recitative – Appear, my friend.
1:11:25 - Air: Your words, O king, my loyal heart
1:12:38 - Recitative: Yes, he shall wed my daughter
1:13:57 - Duet: O fairest of ten thousand /O lovely maid
1:16:49 - Chorus: Is there a man, who all his ways
1:18:27 - Symphony
1:22:58 - Recitative: Thy father is as cruel, and as false
1:23:35 - Duet: At persecution I can laugh
1:24:58 - Recitative: Whom dost thou seek?
1:25:39 - Air: No, no, let the guilty tremble
1:27:09 - Recitative: Mean as he was, he is my brother now
1:28:01 - Air: Author of peace, who canst control
1:31:21 - Symphony
1:32:37 - Accompagnato: The time at length is come when I shall take
1:33:22 - Recitative: Where is the son of Jesse
1:34:25 - Chorus: Oh, fatal consequence

ACT 3
1:39:15 - Accompagnato: Wretch that I am, of my own ruin author!
1:41:40 - Accompagnato: 'Tis said, here lives a woman
1:42:25 - Recitative: With me what would'st thou?
1:43:03 - Air: Infernal spirits, by whose pow'r
1:45:01 - Accompagnato: Why hast thou forc'd me from the realms of peace
1:48:15 - Symphony
1:48:52 - Recitative: Whence comest thou?
1:50:08 - Air: Impious wretch, of race accurst!
1:52:02 - March
1:55:24 - Chorus: Mourn, Israel, mourn thy beauty lost
1:58:07 - Air: Oh, let it not in Gath be heard
2:00:10 - Air: From this unhappy day
2:02:57 - Air: Brave Jonathan his bow never drew
2:05:32 - Chorus: Eagles were not so swift as they
2:05:55 - Air: In sweetest harmony they liv’d
2:10:28 - Solo/Chorus – O fatal day!
2:15:09 - Recitative – Ye men of Judah, weep no more!
2:15:40 - Chorus – Gird on thy sword, thou man of might