2011, Handel's Alexander's Feast
MD Ian Lowe
Handel wrote this delightful music to a fictional story as a tribute to the power of music to sway the emotions, particularly when the person concerned (here, Alexander the Great) has been drinking! The final chorus ends with these words: And may this evening ever prove sacred to harmony and love.
The following tracks re from the second performance, on November 25, 2012. The names of soloists are given.
1 Overture 2 Twas at the Royal Feast - David Cox 3 Happy Pair - David Cox 4 Timotheus placed on high - Neil Spitzer 6 The Song began from Jove - Annette Dick 7 The Listening Crowd 8 With ravished ears - Jennie Barnett 9 The praise of Bacchus - Darren Rosenfeld 10 Bacchus ever fair and young - Graham Ford 11 Soothed with the sound - Dianne Richter 12 He chose a mournful muse - Robyn Mulder 13 He sung Darius great and good - Robyn Mulder 14 With Downcast Looks - Angela Hennel 15 Behold Darius great and Good 16 The Mighty Master Smiled - Kim Kocijan 17 Softly Sweet in Lydian measures - Kim Kocijan 18 War he sang is toil and trouble - Briony Swann 19 The Many Rend the Skies 20 The Prince unable to conceal his pain - Lesley Walton 21 The Many Rend the Skies 22 Now strike the golden lyre again - Darren Rosenfeld 23 Revenge Timotheus Cries - Daniel Broadstock 24 The Princes applaud - Michael Try 25 Thais led the way - Lesley Walton 26 Thus long ago - Darren Rosenfeld 27 At last divine Cecilia came 28 Your voices Tune - Diane Morgan 29 Lets imitate - Lesley Walton, Diane Morgan 30 Let old Timotheus yield the prize - David, Neil, Dianne, Annette 31 Your voices tune