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Handel’s ‘Esther’: 1732 Version – Première Recording of Oratorio in 3 Acts

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Libretto by Samuel Humphreys and others. Live recording of First London Performance – recorded in collaboration with the London Handel Society.

Rosemary Joshua, James Bowman et al, The London Handel Orchestra, Laurence Cummings, Conductor. The oratorio tells the love story of Esther, the Queen of the Israelites. As well as the Coronation anthems Esther includes ‘Zadok the Priest’ and ‘My heart is inditing’. The revised version of Esther has added music which is exhilarating and beautiful for all the forces concerned – for the orchestra, choir and virtuoso solo singers.

Editor’s Choice – Gramophone Magazine, January 2008.

On This Recording

  1. Esther: Overture
  2. Esther: Act I Scene 1: Breathe soft ye gales (Israelite Woman)
  3. Esther: Act I Scene 1: Watchful angels (Israelite Woman)
  4. Esther: Act I Scene 1: O King of kings, celestial Lord! (Esther)
  5. Esther: Act I Scene 1: Alleluia (Esther)
  6. Esther: Act I Scene 1: With transport, lovely queen (Mordecai)
  7. Esther: Act I Scene 1: So much beauty sweetly blooming (Mordecai)
  8. Esther: Act I Scene 1: Again shall Salem, to the skies (Mordecai)
  9. Esther: Act I Scene 1: My heart is inditing (Chorus)
  10. Esther: Act I Scene 1: King's daughter (Chorus)
  11. Esther: Act I Scene 1: Upon the right hand (Chorus)
  12. Esther: Act I Scene 1: Kings shall be thy nursing fathers (Chorus)
  13. Esther: Act I Scene 2: Let me with freedom thy petition know (Ahasuerus)
  14. Esther: Act I Scene 2: Endless fame (Ahasuerus)
  15. Esther: Act I Scene 3: 'Tis greater far to spare (Harbonah)
  16. Esther: Act I Scene 3: Pluck root and branch (Harman)
  17. Esther: Act I Scene 3: Our souls with ardour glow (Officer)
  18. Esther: Act I Scene 3: Shall we the God of Israel fear (Chorus)
  19. Esther: Act I Scene 4: Jerusalem no more shall mourn (First Israelite)
  20. Esther: Act I Scene 4: Tune your harps to cheerful strains (Israelite Woman)
  21. Esther: Act I Scene 4: Shall we of servitude complain (Second Israelite)
  22. Esther: Act I Scene 4: Praise the Lord with cheerful noise (Israelite Woman)
  23. Esther: Act I Scene 5: How have our sins provok'd the Lord! (Mordecai)
  24. Esther: Act I Scene 5: Ye sons of Israel, mourn (Chorus)
  25. Esther: Act I Scene 5: O Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide! (Mordecai)
  26. Esther: Act I Scene 5: Ye sons of Israel, mourn (Chorus)
  27. Esther: Act II Scene 1: Tyrants may awhile presume (Chorus)
  28. Esther: Act II Scene 2: Why sits that sorrow on thy brow? (Esther)
  29. Esther: Act II Scene 2: Dread not, righteous Queen (Modecai)
  30. Esther: Act II Scene 2: O heaven, protect her (Israelite Woman)
  31. Esther: Act II Scene 2: Duet: Blessings descend on downy wings (Israelite Woman, Mordecai)
  32. Esther: Act II Scene 2: I go, the pow'r of grief to prove (Esther)
  33. Esther: Act II Scene 2: Tears assist me, pity moving (Esther)
  34. Esther: Act II Scene 2: Save us, O Lord! (Chorus)
  35. Esther: Act II Scene 3: Who dares intrude into our presence (Ahasuerus)
  36. Esther: Act II Scene 3: Duet: Who calls my parting soul from death? (Esther, Ahasuerus)
  37. Esther: Act II Scene 3: O beauteous queen, unclose those eyes (Ahasuerus)
  38. Esther: Act II Scene 3: I find favour in thy sight (Esther)
  39. Esther: Act II Scene 3: How can I stay when love invites? (Esther)
  40. Esther: Act II Scene 4: With inward joy his visage glows (First Israelite)
  41. Esther: Act II Scene 4: Heav'n has lent her ev'ry charm (Israelite Woman)
  42. Esther: Act II Scene 4: The king will listen to the royal fair (First Israelite)
  43. Esther: Act II Scene 4: Blessed are they that fear the Lord (Chorus)
  44. Esther: Act III Scene 1: Jehovah crown'd with glory bright (Mordecai)
  45. Esther: Act III Scene 1: He comes! He comes to end our woes (Chorus)
  46. Esther: Act III Scene 2: Now O my queen, thy suit declare (Ahasuerus)
  47. Esther: Act III Scene 2: Turn not, O queen, thy face away (Haman)
  48. Esther: Act III Scene 2: Flatt'ring tongue, no more I hear thee (Esther)
  49. Esther: Act III Scene 2: Guards, seize the traitor (Ahasuerus)
  50. Esther: Act III Scene 2: Through the nation he shall be (Ahasuerus)
  51. Esther: Act III Scene 2: All applauding crowds, around (Chorus)
  52. Esther: Act III Scene 2: How art thou fall'n from thy height! (Haman)
  53. Esther: Act III Scene 2: Duet: I'll proclaim the wond'rous story (Esther, Israelite Woman)
  54. Esther: Act III Scene 3: The Lord our enemy has slain, Allelujah! (Chorus)