Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 (with Score)

George Frideric Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 (with Score) Composed: 1741 Soprano: Lucy Crowe Counter-tenor: Tim Mead Tenor: Andrew Staples Baritone: Christopher Purves Conductor: Emmanuelle Haïm Orchestra & Chorus : Le Concert d’Astrée Messiah, HWV 56 is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the Coverdale Psalter, the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. Part I Scene 1: Isaiah’s Prophecy of Salvation - 00:00:00 1. Symphony: Grave - Allegro moderato - 00:03:00 2. Accompagnato (Tenor): Comfort ye my people - 00:05:53 3. Air (Tenor): Ev’ry valley shall be exalted - 00:08:57 4. Chorus: And the glory of the Lord Scene 2: The Coming Judgment - 00:11:27 5. Accompagnato (Bass): Thus saith the Lord of hosts - 00:12:53 6. Air (Alto): But who may abide the day of His coming - 00:17:05 7. Chorus: And he shall purify the sons of Levi Scene 3: The Prophecy of Christ’s Birth - 00:19:30 Recitative (Alto): Behold, a virgin shall conceive - 00:19:55 8. Air (Alto) and Chorus: O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion - 00:24:49 9. Accompagnato (Bass): For behold, darkness shall cover the earth - 00:27:07 10. Air (Bass): The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light - 00:30:44 11. Chorus: For unto us a child is born Scene 4: The Annunciation to the Shepherds - 00:34:37 12. Pifa: Larghetto e mezzo piano - 00:37:11 Recitative (Soprano): There were shepherds abiding in the fields - 00:37:21 13. Accompagnato (Soprano): And lo, the angel of the Lord - 00:37:38 Recitative (Soprano): And the angel said unto them - 00:38:08 14. Accompagnato (Soprano): And suddenly there was with the angel - 00:38:26 : Glory to God in the highest Scene 5: Christ’s Healing and Redemption - 00:40:20 16. Air (Soprano): Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion - 00:44:24 Recitative (Alto): Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened - 00:44:47 17. Duet (Soprano and Alto): He shall feed his flock like a shepherd - 00:50:06 18. Chorus: His yoke is easy Part II Scene 1: Christ’s Passion - 00:52:25 19. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God - 00:54:58 20. Air (Alto): He was despised and rejected of men - 01:05:04 21. Chorus: Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows - 01:06:52 22. Chorus: And with his stripes we are healed - 01:08:57 23. Chorus: All we like sheep have gone astray - 01:12:21 24. Accompagnato (Tenor): All they that see him laugh him to scorn - 01:13:03 25. Chorus: He trusted in God that he would deliver him - 01:15:24 26. Accompagnato (Tenor): Thy rebuke hath broken his heart - 01:16:46 27. Arioso (Tenor): Behold and see if there be any sorrow Scene 2: Christ’s Death and Resurrection - 01:18:15 28. Accompagnato (Tenor): He was cut off - 01:18:31 29. Air (Tenor): But thou didst not leave his soul in hell Scene 3: Christ’s Ascension - 01:20:40 30. Chorus: Lift up your heads, O ye gates Scene 4: Christ’s Reception in Heaven - 01:23:37 Recitative (Tenor): Unto which of the angels - 01:23:52 31. Chorus: Let all the angels of God worship Him Scene 5: The Beginnings of Gospel Preaching - 01:25:21 32. Air (Soprano): Thou art gone up on high - 01:28:12 33. Chorus: The Lord gave the word - 01:29:19 34a. Air (Soprano): How beautiful are the feet - 01:31:40 35a. Chorus: Their sound is gone out Scene 6: The World’s Rejection of the Gospel - 01:33:04 36. Air (Bass): Why do the nations so furiously rage together - 01:35:47 37. Chorus: Let us break their bonds asunder - 01:37:27 Recitative (Tenor): He that dwelleth in heaven Scene 7: God’s Ultimate Victory - 01:37:38 38. Air (Tenor): Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron - 01:39:28 39. Chorus: Hallelujah Part III Scene 1: The Promise of Eternal Life - 01:43:06 40. Air (Soprano): I know that my Redeemer liveth - 01:49:06 41. Chorus: Since by man came death Scene 2: The Day of Judgment - 01:51:06 42. Accompagnato (Bass): Behold, I tell you a mystery - 01:51:45 43. Air (Bass): The trumpet shall sound Scene 3: The Final Conquest of Sin - 02:00:28 Recitative (Alto): Then shall be brought to pass - 02:00:43 44. Duet (Alto and Tenor): O death, where is thy sting - 02:01:38 45. Chorus: But thanks be to God - 02:03:37 46. Air (Soprano): If God be for us, who can be against us Scene 4: The Acclamation of the Messiah - 02:08:18 47. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb - 02:11:37 Chorus: Amen