William Christie - Handel: Belshazzar (CD)

A dark, pessimistic work, Belshazzar casts an uncompromising gaze on the fate of empires and those who govern them. In 2013, William Christie and Les Arts Florissants recorded a noble and majestic account of this formidable oratorio. The Times proclaimed "Belshazzar is delivered with ringing zest by Allan Clayton, Rosemary Joshua and other top Brits, and an orchestra forever on the boil."

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61: Overture
2. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 1: Accompagnato ed Arioso. Vain Fluctuating State of Human Empire!
3. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 1: Aria. Thou, God Most High, and Thou Alone
4. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scenes 1-2: Recitative. The Fate of Babylon, I Fear, Is Nigh - Recitative. O Much Belov'd
5. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 2: Air. Lament Not Thus, O Queen, in Vain!
6. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 3: Chorus of Babylonians. Behold By Persia'S Hero Made
7. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 3: Recitative. Well May They Laugh, from Meagre Famine Safe - Accompagnato. Oh Memory
8. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 3: Aria. Opprest With Never Ceasing Grief
9. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 3: Aria. Dry Those Unavailing Tears
10. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 3: Recitative. Be Comforted Safe Tho' the Tyrant Seem - Accompagnato. Methought, As On the Bank of Deep Euphrates - Recitative. Now tell me Gobrias
11. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 3: Aria. Behold the Monstrous Human Beast - Recitative. Can You Then Think It Strange, If Drown'd in Wine
12. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 3: Aria. Great God! Who Yet But Darkly Known - Recitative. My friends, be confident, and boldly enter
13. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 3: Chorus. All Empires Upon God Depend
14. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 4: Arioso. O Sacred Oracles of Truth!
15. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 4: Accompagnato. Rejoice, My Countrymen the Time Draws Near - Recitative. For Long Ago - Accompagnato. Thus Saith the Lord to Cyrus His Anointed
16. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 4: Chorus. Sing, O Ye Heav'Ns, for the Lord Hath Done It
17. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 5: Aria. Let Festal Joy Triumphant Reign - Recitative. For You, My Friends, the Nobles of My Court
18. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 5: Aria. The Leafy Honours of the Field
19. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 5: Recitative. It Is the Custom, I May Say, the Law
20. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 5: Chorus of Jews. Recall, O King, Thy Rash Command
21. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 5: Recitative. They Tell You True; Nor Can You Be to Learn
22. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 5: Duet. O Dearer Than My Life, Forbear
23. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act I Scene 5: Chorus of Jews. By Slow Degrees the Wrath of God to Its Meridian Height Ascends
24. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 1: Chorus. See, from His Post Euphrates Flies! - Semichorus. Why Faithless River Dost Thou Leave - Semichorus. Euphrates Hath His Task Fulfil'd - Chorus Of Things On Earth, Proud Man Must Own
25. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 1: Recitative. You See, My Friends, a Path Into the City - Aria. Amaz'd to Find the Foe So Near - Chorus of Persians. to Arms, to Arms, No More Delay
26. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 2: Chorus. Ye Tutelar Gods of Our Empire, Look Down
27. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 2: Aria. Let the Deep Bowl Thy Praise Confess
28. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 2: Accompagnato and Chorus. Where Is the God of Judah'S Boasted Pow'R?
29. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 2: Recitative. Call All Our Wisemen, Sorcerers, Chaldeans - Symphony
30. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 2: Recitative. Ye Sages, Welcome Always to Your King - Trio. Alas! Too Hard a Task the King Imposes - Chorus. O Misery! O Terror! Hopeless Grief!
31. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 2: Recitative. O King, Live for Ever! - Recitative. Art thou that Daniel, of the Jewish captives? - Aria. No to Thyself Thy Trifles Be
32. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 2: Accompagnato. Yet to Obey His Dread Command - Accompagnato. Thou, O King, Hast Lifted Up Thyself - Recitative. O Sentence Too Severe! and Yet Too Sure!
33. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 2: Aria. Regard, O Son, My Flowing Tears
34. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 3: Aria. O God of Truth! O Faithful Guide! - Recitative. You, Gobrias, Lead Directly to the Palace
35. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act II Scene 3: Chorus. O Glorious Prince! Thrice Happy They
36. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 1: Aria. Alternate Hopes and Fears Distract My Mind - Recitative. Fain Would I Hope. Is There Not Room to Hope?
37. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 1: Aria. Can the Black Æthiop Change His Skin? - Recitative. My Hopes Revive, Here Arioch Comes By This
38. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 1: Chorus of Jews. Bel Boweth Down! Nebo Stoopeth!
39. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 2: Aria. I Thank Thee, Sesach, Thy Sweet Pow'R - A Martial Symphony
40. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 3: Aria. To Pow'R Immortal My First Thanks Are Due - Recitative. Be It Thy Care, Good Gobrias, to Find Out
41. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 3: Aria. Destructive War Thy Limits Know
42. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 3: Duet. Great Victor, At Your Feet I Bow - Recitative. Say, Venerable Prophet, Is There Ought
43. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 3: Soli and Chorus. Tell It Out Among the Heathen, That the Lord Is King.
44. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 3: Accompagnato. Yes, I Will Build Thy City, God of Israel
45. Handel: Belshazzar, HWV 61, Act III Scene 3: Anthem. I Will Magnify Thee, O God My King!