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George Frideric Handel, Juergen Budday, Hannoversche Hofkapelle
G.F. Handel: Oratorio Belshazzar (in English), 2-CD-Box
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (28) - Disc #1
1. Chorus(The Babylonians)-Ye tutelar gods of our empire, look down
2. Air(Belshazzar)-Let the deep bowl thy praise confess
3. Recitative(Belshazzar)-Where is the God of Judah's boasted pow'r
4. Chorus(The Babylonians)+Recitative(Belshazzar)-Help,help the king!He faints...
5. Recitative(Belshazzar)+Sinfonia-Call all our Wise Men
6. Recitative(Belshazzar)+Chorus(Wise Men)-Ye sages,welcome always to your king
7. Chorus(The Babylonians)-Oh misery!Oh terror,hopeless grief!
8. Recitative(Nitocrus+Belshazzar)+Recitative(Belshazzar)-O king, live for ever!
9. Air(Daniel)-No,to thyself thy trifles be
10. Recitative accomp.(Daniel)-Yet,to obey His dread command
11. Recitative(Nitocris)-O sentence too severe
12. Air(Nitocris)-Regard, O son, my flowing tears
13. Air(Cyrus)-O God of truth, Ofaithful guide
14. Recitative(Cyrus)-You,Gobrias,lead directly to the palace
15. Chorus(The Persians)-O glorious prince, thrice happy they
16. Air(Nitocris)-Alternate hopes and fears distract my mind
17. recitative(Nitocris,Arioch,Messenger)-My hopes revive,here Arioch comes
18. Chorus(The Jews)-Bel boweth down,Nebo stoopeth
19. Air(Belshazzar)-I thank thee,Sesach
20. A Martial Symphony
21. Air(Gobrias)-To pow'r immortal my first thanks are due
22. Recitative(Cyrus)-Be it thy care,good Gobrias
23. Air(Cyrus)-Destructive war, thy limits know
24. Duets(Nitocris+Cyrus)-Great victor, at your feet I bow
25. Recitative(Cyrus+Daniel)-Say,venerable prophet
26. Soli(Nitocris,Daniel,Gobrias)+Chorus-Tell it out among the heathen
27. Recitative accomp.(Cyrus)-yes, I will build thy city, God of Israel
28. Soli+Chorus-I will magnify Thee,O God my king

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CD Details

All Artists: George Frideric Handel, Juergen Budday, Hannoversche Hofkapelle, Maulbronn Chamber Choir, Maulbronn Monastery Edition, Michael Chance, Laurie Reviol, Julian Podger, Steffen Balbach, Mark Le Brocq
Title: G.F. Handel: Oratorio Belshazzar (in English), 2-CD-Box
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: K&K Verlagsanstalt
Original Release Date: 12/21/2004
Re-Release Date: 8/2/2005
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750), Classical (c.1770-1830)
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 669910325162

Synopsis

Product Description

Concerts from Maulbronn Monastery, a UNESCO's World Heritage Site: The abbey, founded by Cistercian monks in the year 1147, is the only completely preserved mediaeval complex north of the Alps. In 1994, it was the 13th German site added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is thus in the illustrious company of such great monuments as the Egyptian pyramids and the Taj Mahal. The internationally renowned monastery concerts have occurred since 1968. The performances take place in the unparalleled atmosphere of the abbey's premises (monastery church, cloister gardens and lay refectory). Under the arches illuminated by romantic candlelight, 25 concerts are held every year. This series presents a selection of some of the most beautiful works of sacred and secular music.

CD Reviews

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 01/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THIS PERFORMANCE IS RECORDED LIVE! And that's one of the reasons that it is so exciting to hear. Performers and conductor alike are really 'up' for a performance like this, and the listener is rewarded by this experience. No matter that a note here and there may not be PERFECT, it's really the overall 'high' that this type of rendition gives us. Of course, no need to worry that Maulbronn discs are inferior; just the opposite: excellent singers & instrumentalists and outstanding soloists prevail.

The English passion for the oratorio is largely due to Handel. Every year from 1738 to 1751, he produced at least one. Handel's oratorios, more dramatic than any previously written,were like operas without scenery and costumes.

"Balshazzar" is one of a cycle of old testament oratorios by Handel. It is the story of the Babylonian king, Belshazzar, as presented in the biblical story from the book of Daniel. Belshazzar commits sacrilege against the God of the Israelites, upon which a ghostly hand inscribes the mysterious text,the Menetkel, upon the wall of the court,predicting the downfall of the kingdom and the death of Belshazzar at the hands of the Persians. The prophecy is fulfilled that very same night.

Instrumentally and chorally this is a great recording! The characters of Daniel (Michael Chance) and Belshazzar (Mark LeBrocq) are well sung and dramatically convincing as is Nitrocris (Miriam). Gobrias is OK and somewhat convincing at times, but has some difficulty producing well-rounded low tones. But the weakest character both dramatically and vocally is Cyrus (Patrick van Goethem) countertenor. His voice was breathy in the low register and brittle and somewhat off pitch in the upper register. However, I'm really hard on countertenors, so you may not agree! One of the most exciting and well performed parts occurs when the hand of God writes on the wall terrifying Belshazzar; Daniel, the prophet then appears and prophesies in a most frightening manner death and destruction and nobody could have done that better than Chance.

RECORDINGS FROM MAULBRONN ARE NEVER DULL!"