George Frideric Handel: Alexander Balus, oratorio HWV 65 (1748)


ACT 1 00:00

Scene I: Overture
Scene I. Chor: Flush'd With Conquest, Fir'd By Mithra
Scene I. Recitative: Thus Far, Ye Glorious Partners Of The War
Scene I. Air: Great Author Of His Harmony
Scene I. Fanfare/Recitative: And Thus Let Happy Egypt's King Speak His Affection
Scene I. Air: Thrice Happy The Monarch, Whom Nations Contend, With Counsels To
Scene I. Recitative/Air: Congratulations To Our Father - Hark, hark he strikes the golden lyre
Scene I. Recitative/Air: Be It My Chief Ambition There To Rise, Where For These
Scene I. Chor: Ye Happy Nations Round, Loudy Triumph, Your Voices Raise!
Scene II. Recitative/Air: My Jonathan, Didst Thou Mark Well Her Graces?
Scene III. Air: Subtle Love, With Fancy Viewing, Rapt'rous Joys On Joys Ensuing, Plays
Scene III. Recitative/Air: Aspasia, I Know Not What To Call This Interview.
Scene III. Recitative/Air: Check Not The Pleasing Accents Of Thy Tongue
Scene III. Recitative/Duet: How Blissful State!'
Scene IV. Recitative: Why Hangs This Heavy Gloom Upon The Brow Of Syria's Monarch
Scene IV. Air: Heroes May Boast Their Mighty Deeds, And Talk Of Conquest In High
Scene IV. Recitative/Air/Chor: Ye Sons Of Judah, With High Festival Proclaim This

ACT 2 58:28

Scene I: Air. Kind Hope, Thou Universal Friend, Sweet Balm In All Distress, Still
Scene I. Recitative: Long, Long And Happy Live The King!
Scene I. Air: O Mithra, With Thy Brightest Beams Shine Out Serene And Gay
Scene I. Recitative: Stay, My Dread Sovereign, And Let Just Revenge Secure They Throne
Scene I. Air: Hateful Man! Thy Sland'rous Tongue Throws in Vain The Poison'd Dart
Scene I. Chor: O Calumny, On Virtue Waiting, Shadow-Like, Yet Virtue Hating
Scene II. Recitative/Air: Ah, Whence These Dire Forebodings Of The Mind?
Scene II. Recitative/Air: Give To The Winds, Fair Princess, These Vain Doubts And
Scene III. Recitative/Air: Thus Far My Wishes Thrive. With Eager Joy Fond Alexander
Scene IV. Accompanied Recitative: Ye Happy People, With Loud Accents Speak Your
Scene IV. Chor: Hymn, Fair Urania's Son

ACT 3 01:48:30

Scene I: Sinfonia
Scene I. Recitatave/Air/Chor: Tis True, Instinctive Nature - Here amid the shady woods
Scene II. Recitative: Ah! Was It Not My Cleopatra's Voice?
Scene II. Air: Fury, With Red Sparkling Eyes, Rise, In All Thy Terrors Rise
Scene II. Recitative & Air: Gods! Can There Be A More Afflicting Sight, Than Such
Scene II. Recitative & Air/Chor: May He Return With Laurel'd Victory On His Glad Brow
Scene III. Accompanied Recitative: Yes, He Was False, My Daughter, False To You
Scene III. Air: O Sword, And Thou, All-Daring Hand, Thy Aid Alone I Crave
Scene IV. Accompanied Recitative: Shall Cleopatra Ever Smile Again?
Scene IV. Air: O Take Me From This Hateful Light
Scene IV. Recitative: Forgive, O Queen, The Messenger Of Ill!
Scene IV. Accompanied Recitative/Air: Calm Thou, My Soul, Kind Isis - Convey me to some paceful shore
Scene V. Recitative/Air/Chor: Mysterious Are Thy Ways, O Providence! - Ye sons of eternity




Julianne Baird
Edward Brewer
Jennifer Lane
D'Anna Fortunato

Rudolph Palmer
Palmer Singers
Brewer Chamber Orchestra