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
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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

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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?

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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

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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
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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)