CD1
Act One
1-1 Overture 11:55
Scene 1 An Epinicion Or Song Of Triumph, For The Victory Over Goliath And The Philistines.
1-2 How Excellent Thy Name 2:45
1-3 An Infant Rais’d 1:37
1-4 Along The Monster 1:02
1-5 The Youth Inspir’d 1:48
1-6 How Excellent Thy Name 0:49
1-7 Hallelujah! 1:40
Scene 2
1-8 He comes, he comes! 0:04
1-9 O Godlike Youth 3:15
1-10 Behold, O King 0:53
1-11 O King, Your Favours 5:23
1-12 Oh, Early Piety! 0:23
1-13 What Abject Thoughts 2:04
1-14 Yet Think On Whom This Honour 0:12
1-15 Birth And Fortune I Despise! 4:57
1-16 Go On, Illustrious Pair! 0:19
1-17 While Yet Thy Tide 2:04
1-18 Thou, Merab, First In Birth 0:18
1-19 My Soul Rejects 3:18
1-20 Sinfonia 1:04
Scene 3
1-21 Already See The Daughters 0:18
1-22 Welcome, Welcome, Mighty King! 1:30
1-23 What Do I hear? 0:24
1-24 David His Ten Thousands Slew 0:31
1-25 To Him Ten Thousands 0:13
1-26 With Rage I Shall Burst 1:14
Scene 4
1-27 Imprudent Women! 0:44
1-28 Fell Rage And black Despair 2:36
Scene 5
1-29 Racked With Infernal Pains 0:16
1-30 O Lord, Whose Merices 4:03
1-31 Symphony (Harp) 1:29
1-32 'Tis All In Vain 0:18
1-33 A Serpent, In My Bosom Warm'd 1:54
1-34 Has He Escp'd My Rage? 0:21
1-35 Capricious Man 3:39
Scene 6
1-36 O Filial Piety! 1:21
1-37 No, Cruel Father, No! 1:24
1-38 O Lord, Whose Providence 1:27
1-39 Preserve Him For The Glory 3:45
CD2
Act Two
Scene 1
2-1 Envy, Eldest Born Of Hell 2:59
Scene 2
2-2 Ah, Dearest Friend 0:34
2-3 But Sooner Jordan’s Stream 2:10
2-4 Oh, Strange Vicissitude! 0:55
2-5 Such Haughty Beauties Rather Move 5:09
2-6 My Father Comes 0:52
Scene 3
2-7 Sin Not, O King, Against The Youth 2:05
2-8 As Great Jehovah Lives, I Swear 1:06
2-9 From Cities Stormed, And Battles Won 2:02
Scene 4
2-10 Appear, My Friend 0:30
2-11 Your Words, O King, My Loyal Heart 1:04
2-12 Yes, He Shall Wed My Daughter! 1:01
Scene 5
2-13 O Fairest Of Ten Thousand Fair 2:49
2-14 Is There A Man, Who All His Ways 1:40
2-15 Sinfonia 6:45
Scene 6
2-16 Thy Father Is As Cruel 0:41
2-17 At Persecution I Can Laugh 1:11
Scene 7
2-18 Whom Dost Thou Seek? 0:41
2-19 No, No, Let The Guilty Tremble 1:23
Scene 8
2-20 Mean As He Was, He Is My Brother Now 0:52
2-21 Author Of Peace 3:35
Scene 9 Saul At The Feast Of The New Moon.
2-22 Symphony 1:10
2-23 The Time At Length Is Come 0:37
Scene 10
2-24 Where Is The Son Of Jesse? 1:04
2-25 Oh, Fatal Consequence 5:10
CD3
Act Three
Scene 1 Saul Disguised, At Endor.
3-1 Wretch That I Am, Of My Own Ruin Author! 2:10
3-2 ’Tis said, here lives a woman 0:54
Scene 2 Saul And The Witch Of Endor.
3-3 With Me What Would’st Thou? 0:44
3-4 Infernal Spirits, By Whose Pow’r 1:53
Scene 3 Apparition Of Samuel.
3-5 Why Hast Thou Forc’d Me From The Realms Of Peace? 3:16
3-6 Sinfonia 0:36
Scene 4
3-7 Whence Comest Thou? 1:03
3-8 Impious Wretch, Of Race Accurst! 1:51
3-9 Symphony: Dead March 3:16
Scene 5 Elegy On The Death Of Saul And Jonathan.
3-10 Mourn, Israel, Mourn Thy Beauty Lost 3:35
3-11 Oh, Let It Not In Gath Be Heard 2:20
3-12 From This Unhappy Day 2:37
3-13 Brave Jonathan His Bow Never Drew 2:06
3-14 Eagles Were Not So Swift As They 0:21
3-15 In Sweetest Harmony They Lived 4:02
3-16 O Fatal Day! 4:00
3-17 Ye Men Of Judah, Weep No More! 0:28
3-18 Gird On Thy Sword, Thou Man Of Might 5:21
Saul may not be Handel's most dramatically coherent oratorio, but it is full of moments of high drama, and this recording with Harry Christophers, leading the Sixteen and an outstanding group of soloists, does a terrific job of making those moments throb with vitality. The singers bring an operatic intensity to their roles. Baritone Christopher Purves is a grippingly anguished protagonist, and his voice has plenty of power and authority. Mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly's David is vocally exceptional, a model of dignity and warmth, and her dramatic performance is subtly modulated. As Saul's daughters Merab and Michal, Elizabeth Atherton and Joélle Harvey have clearly differentiated voices and each brings a focused, vibrant soprano to her character. Among the principals, only tenor Robert Murray as Jonathan is disappointing for the unevenness of his vocal production. The chorus of the Sixteen sings with great warmth and energy, and with their characteristic polish and euphonious blend. Christophers draws wonderfully colorful performances from the orchestra, which plays with elegance and style. Frances Kelly's harp solo is especially lovely, and in its dramatic context, deeply moving. The sound of the Coro CD is clean and realistically present. -- Stephen Eddins
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