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Esther (London 1732) HWV 50b

Libretto: Alexander Pope, John Arbuthnot
Laurence Cummings, London Handel Orchestra, London Handel Singers, Rosemary Joshua (Soprano), James Bowman (Countertenor), Susan Bickley (Mezzo Soprano), Christopher Purves (Bass), Rebecca Outram (Soprano), Andrew Kennedy (Tenor), Cecilia Osmond (Soprano), Angus Smith (Tenor), Christopher Watson (Tenor)
April 2002, London, St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London
Live
54 Tracks, 2:17:19

  • Overture

    • Andante - Larghetto - Allegro
      07:06

  • Act I

    • No. 1 Arioso 'Breathe soft, ye gales' (Israelite Woman)
      03:44
    • No. 2a Air 'Watchful angels' (Israelite Woman)
      01:35
    • Recitative 'O King of Kings, celestial Lord!' (Esther)
      00:24
    • No. 3 Air 'Alleluja' (Esther)
      03:06
    • Recitative 'With transport, lovely Queen, I see' (Mordecai)
      00:39
    • No. 4 Air 'So much beauty, sweetly blooming' (Mordecai)
      04:16
    • (Recitative) 'Again shall Salem to the skies' (Mordecai)
      00:15
    • No. 5 Chorus 'My heart is inditing' (Chorus)
      02:44
    • No. 6 Chorus 'Kings' daughters' (Chorus)
      03:21
    • No. 7 Chorus 'Upon thy right hand' (Chorus)
      02:59
    • No. 8 Chorus 'Kings shall be thy nursing fathers' (Chorus)
      03:10
    • Recitative 'Let me with freedom thy petition know' (Ahasverus, Haman)
      01:11
    • No. 9a Air 'Endless fame' (Ahasverus)
      07:30
    • Recitative 'Tis greater far to spare, than to destroy' (Harbonah, Haman)
      00:39
    • No. 10 Air 'Pluck root and branch' (Haman)
      02:07
    • (Recitative) 'Our souls with ardour glow' (Officer)
      00:08
    • No. 11 Chorus 'Shall we the God of Israel fear' (Chorus)
      01:43
    • Recitative 'Jerusalem no more shall mourn' (Priest Israelite) (1751)
      00:30
    • No. 12a Air 'Tune your harps to cheerful strains' (Israelite Woman)
      04:17
    • Recitative 'Shall we of servitude complain' (Israelite Woman)
      00:13
    • No. 13a Air 'Praise the Lord with cheerful noise' (Israelite Woman)
      02:35
    • Recitative 'How have our sins provok'd the Lord!' (Mordecai)
      00:53
    • No. 14a Air 'O Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide!' (Mordecai)
      08:23
    • No. 15 Chorus 'Ye sons of Israel, mourn' (Chorus)
      02:17
    • No. 15 Chorus 'Ye sons of Israel, mourn' (Chorus) (Repetition)
      02:44

  • Act II

    • No. 16 Chorus 'Tyrants may awhile presume they never shall' (Chorus)
      02:44
    • Recitative 'Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?' (Esther, Mordecai)
      00:52
    • No. 17a Air 'Dread not, righteous Queen, the danger' (Mordecai)
      05:09
    • Recitative 'O heav'n, protect her with thy tender care' (Israelite Woman)
      00:14
    • No. 18 Duet 'Blessings descend on downy wings' (Israelite Woman, Mordecai)
      04:35
    • Recitative 'I go the pow'r of grief to prove' (Esther)
      00:16
    • No. 19b Air 'Tears, assist me, pity moving' (Esther) (1751)
      03:01
    • 20 Chorus 'Save us, o Lord!' (Chorus)
      01:36
    • Recitative 'Who dares intrude into our presence' (Ahasverus, Esther)
      01:12
    • No. 21 Duet 'Who calls my parting soul from death?' (Esther, Ahasverus)
      02:55
    • No. 22 Air 'O beauteous queen, unclose those eyes' (Ahasverus)
      05:49
    • Recitative 'If I find favour in thy sight' (Esther)
      00:25
    • No. 23 Air 'How can I stay when love invites?' (Ahasverus)
      03:15
    • Recitative 'With inward joy his visage glows' (Priest Israelite)
      00:36
    • No. 24 Air 'Heaven has lent her ev'ry charm' (Israelite Woman)
      04:36
    • Recitative 'The king will listen to his royal fair' (Priest Israelite)
      00:14
    • No. 25 Anthem 'Blessed are all they that fear the Lord' (Chorus) (1751)
      05:26

  • Act III

    • No. 26 Arioso 'Jehovah crown'd with glory bright' (Mordecai)
      01:34
    • No. 27 Chorus 'He comes to end our woes' (Chorus)
      02:01
    • Recitative 'Now, O queen, thy suit declare' (Ahasverus)
      01:25
    • No. 28 Arioso 'Turn not, O Queen, thy face away' (Haman)
      02:27
    • No. 29 Air 'Flatt'ring tongue, no more I hear thee!' (Esther)
      04:34
    • Recitative 'Guards, seize the traitor, bear him hence' (Ahasverus)
      00:26
    • No. 30a Air 'Thro' the nation he shall be' (Ahasverus)
      01:43
    • No. 30b Chorus 'All applauding crowds around' (Chorus)
      00:52
    • No. 31 Air 'How art thou fall'n from thy height!' (Haman)
      02:47
    • No. 32 Duet 'I'll proclaim the wond'rous story' (Esther, Israelite Woman)
      02:49
    • No. 33 Chorus 'The Lord our enemy has slain! Alleluja' (Chorus)
      05:17