Handel - Saul Oratorio HWV 53, Funeral March (Fischer-Dieskau, reference recording: N.Harnoncourt)

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Saul: Oratorio in three acts, HWV 53 Click to activate the English subtitles for the presentation (00:00-04:15) The famous Funeral March 1:46:36 No.77b Dead March 00:00 Synfonia ACT ONE • ACTE UN • ERSTER AKT SCENE 1 03:59 No. 1 Chorus: How excellent thy name, o Lord 06:49 No.2 Air: An infant rais'd by thy command soprano 08:25 No.3 Trio: Along the monster atheist strode alto, tenor, bass No.4 Chorus: The youth inspir'd by thee, o Lord 09:27 No.5 Chorus: How excellent thy name o Lord … Hallelujah SCENE 2 13:46 No.6 Recitative: He comes, he comes! Michal No.7 Air: 0 godlike youth! by all confess'd of human race the pride! Michal 16:48 No.8 Recitative: Behold, o King, the brave, victorious youth, Abner, Saul, David No.9 Air: 0 King, your favours with delight I take David 19:34 No. 10 Recitative: Oh early piety! oh modest merit! Jonathan 20:20 No. 11 Air: What abject thoughts a prince can have! Merab No. 12 Recitative: Yet think, on whom this honour you bestow, Merab 22:29 No. 13 Air: Birth and fortune I despise! Jonathan 27:48 No. 16 Recitative: Thou, Merab, first in birth, be first in honour, Saul, Merab No. 17 Air: My soul rejects the thought with scorn, Merab 29:37 No. 18 Air: See, with what a scornful air she the precious gift receives, Michal No. 19 Air: Ah! lovely youth! Michal 31:41 Sinfonie pour les Carillons ** COMPLETE PLAYLIST: LOOK THE FIRST PINNED COMMENT ** SCENE 6 51:53 No.38 Accompagnato: Oh filial piety! oh sacred friendship! Jonathan No.39 Air: No, cruel father, no! Jonathan 55:06 No.41 Chorus: Preserve him for the glory of thy name, thy people's safety ACT TWO • ACTE DEUX • ZWEITER AKT SCENE 1 57:42 No.42 Chorus: Envy! eldest-born of Hell! SCENE 2 59:49 No.43 Recitative: Ah, dearest friend, undone by too much virtue! Jonathan No.44 Air: But sooner Jordan's stream I swear, back to his spring, Jonathan No.47 My father comes: retire, my friend Jonathan SCENE 3 1:03:12 No.48 Recitative: Hast thou obey'd my orders Saul, Jonathan No.49 Air: Sin not, o King, against the youth, Jonathan 1:05:07 No.50 Air: As great Jehovah lives, I swear, the youth shall not slain, Saul 1:06:24 No.51 Air: From cities storm'd, and battles won, what glory can accrue? ** COMPLETE PLAYLIST: LOOK THE FIRST PINNED COMMENT ** SCENE 8 No.63 Recitative: Mean as he was, he is my brother now, Merab No.64 Air: Author of peace, who canst controul ev'ry passion of the soul, Merab SCENE 9 1:27:17 No.65 Sinfonia 1:28:33 No.66a Accompagnato: The time at length is come Saul SCENE 10 1:29:24 No.67 Recitative: Where is the son of Jesse? Saul, Jonathan 1:30:37 No.68 Chorus: Oh fatal consequence of rage, by reason uncontroll’d ACT THREE • ACTE TROIS • DRITTER AKT ** COMPLETE PLAYLIST: LOOK THE FIRST PINNED COMMENT ** SCENE 5: ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF SAUL AND JONATHAN 1:49:38 No.78 Chorus: Mourn, Israel, mourn 1:53:28 No.79 Recitatne: Oh let it not in Gath be heard tenor (Rolfe Johnson) No.80 Air. From this unhappy day no more, ye Gilboan hills Michal 1:59:28 No.82 Chorus: Eagles were not so swift as they 1:59:51 No.83 Air: In wseetest harmony they liv’d, Merab No.84 Solo and Chorus: Oh fatal day! how low the mighty lie! David 2:09:28 No85a Recitative: Ye men of Judah, weep no more High, Priest No.86 Chorus: Gird on thy sword, thou man of might Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Saul (baritone) Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Jonathan (tenor) Paul Esswood, David (alto) Julia varady Merab (soprano) Elizabeth Gale Michal (soprano) Helmut Wildhaber, Witch of Endor, Abner, An Amalekite, Doeg, High Priest (tenor) Matthias Hölle, Apparition of Samuel (bass) Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor Concentus musicus Wien NIKOLAUS HARNONCOURT Recorded in 1985, at Vienna Painting: Guercino (1591-1666): Saul Attacking David 🔊Find CMRR's recordings on Spotify : https://spoti.fi/3016eVr 🔊Download CMRR's recordings in High fidelity audio : https://bit.ly/2M1Eop2 Saul is one of Handel's most dramatic oratorios. In this work as in no other, the proximity to the opera of the time is remarkable. The score requires a very colorful orchestra: in addition to the classical cast of an opera orchestra, trombones, a harp, a solo organ, a glockenspiel and large timpani are needed. The chorus is the main actor in the drama, sometimes also taking on the role of commentator as in Greek tragedy. David has defeated Goliath and the Philistines, earning the admiration of the people and the jealousy of King Saul. Jonathan, the King's son, declares his faithful friendship to the hero. But his father orders him to kill him... Georg Friedrich Haendel PLAYLIST (reference recordings):    • Georg Friedrich Haendel (1685-1759)