Handel: Jephtha
James Gilchrist (Jephtha), Mona Julsrud (Iphis), Elisabeth Jansson (Storge), Håvard Stensvold (Zebul), Marianne B. Kielland (Hamor), Elisabeth Rapp (Angel)
Collegium Vocale Gent & Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Biondi
Awards:
-
Building a Library, January 2018, Also Recommended
The expressive singing of Collegium Vocale Gent is one of the most attractive elements in Fabio Biondi's live recording of Jephtha. The choir sound more freethan they do under their founder,...
Handel: Jephtha
James Gilchrist (Jephtha), Mona Julsrud (Iphis), Elisabeth Jansson (Storge), Håvard Stensvold (Zebul), Marianne B. Kielland (Hamor), Elisabeth Rapp (Angel)
Collegium Vocale Gent & Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Biondi
Purchase product
Awards:
-
Building a Library, January 2018, Also Recommended
The expressive singing of Collegium Vocale Gent is one of the most attractive elements in Fabio Biondi's live recording of Jephtha. The choir sound more freethan they do under their founder,...
About
This recording was taking from a live performance at the Stavanger Concert Hall in 2008 and boasts a roster of soloists headed by the fine British tenor James Gilchrist as Jephtha.
The eminent Belgian choir Collegium Vocale Gent, is accompanied by the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and at the helm of these large forces is Fabio Biondi, the Baroque violinist and conductor who since 2005 has been artistic director of the Stavanger orchestra in the baroque and classical repertoires.
Jephtha was Handel's last oratorio, and indeed his last major work due to the deterioration of his eyesight. It is nevertheless no less a masterpiece than his earlier works, and contains some of his noblest music.
The plot of this ‘Sacred Drama’ is loosely based on the story of Jephtha in the Old Testament: a father who in order to win the the Israelites’ struggle against the Ammonites makes a rash promise to God, and after his victory is compelled to sacrifice his own daughter.
“...He (James Gilchrist) is now unsurpassed among lyric tenors in sweetness and technical security, and for his musical intelligence.” The Independent
Contents and tracklist
- Elisabeth Jansson (mezzo-soprano), James Gilchrist (tenor), Mona Julsrud (soprano), Elizabeth Rapp (soprano), Marianne Beate Kielland (mezzo-soprano), havard Stensvold (baritone)
- Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Collegium Vocale Gent
- Fabio Biondi
- Recorded: 7 February 2008
- Recording Venue: Stavanger Concert Hall, Norway
Overture
Track length5:05
Menuet
Track length1:21
Act I Scene 1: Accompagnato: It must be so, or these vile Ammonites (Zebul)
Track length1:37
Act I Scene 1: Air: Pour forth no more unheeded prayr's (Zebul)
Track length4:57
Act I Scene 1: No more to Ammon's god and king (Chorus)
Track length3:07
Act I Scene 2: Recitative: But Jephtha comes (Zebul, Jephtha)
Track length0:57
Act I Scene 2: Air: Virtue my soul shall still embrace (Jephtha)
Track length4:01
Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Twill be a painful separation, Jephtha (Storge)
Track length0:34
Act I Scene 2: Air: In gentle murmurs will I mourn (Storge)
Track length4:31
Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Happy this embassy, my charming Iphis (Hamor)
Track length0:46
Act I Scene 3: Air: Dull delay, in piercing anguish (Hamor)
Track length2:37
Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Ill suits the voice of love (Iphis)
Track length0:29
Act I Scene 3: Air: Take the heart you fondly gave (Iphis)
Track length3:07
Act I Scene 3: Recitative: I go, my soul, inspir'd by thy command (Hamor)
Track length0:27
Act I Scene 3: Duet: These labours past, how happy we (Iphis, Hamor)
Track length4:26
Act I Scene 4: Recitative: What mean these doubtful fancies of the brain? (Jephtha)
Track length2:22
Act I Scene 4: O God, behold our sore distress (Chorus)
Track length4:48
Act I Scene 5: Recitative: Some dire event hangs o'er our heads (Storge)
Track length0:31
Act I Scene 5: Air: Scenes of horror, scenes of woe (Storge)
Track length3:56
Act I Scene 6: Recitative: Say, my dear mother, whence these piercing cries (Iphis, Storge)
Track length0:54
Act I Scene 6: Air: The smiling dawn of happy days (Iphis)
Track length1:59
Act I Scene 7: Recitative: Such, Jephtha, was the haughty king's reply (Zebul, Jephtha)
Track length0:35
Act I Scene 7: When his loud voice in thunder spoke (Chorus)
Track length4:22
Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Glad tidings of great joy to thee, dear Iphis (Hamor)
Track length1:22
Act II Scene 1: Cherub and Seraphim, unbodied forms (Chorus)
Track length3:34
Act II Scene 1: Air: Up the dreadful steep ascending (Hamor)
Track length4:55
Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Tis well. Haste, haste, ye maidens (Iphis)
Track length0:23
Act II Scene 1: Air: Tune the soft melodious lute (Iphis)
Track length3:36
Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Heav'n smiles once more on his repentant people (Jephtha)
Track length0:40
Act II Scene 2: Air: His mighty arm, with sudden blow (Jephtha)
Track length5:19
Act II Scene 2: In glory high, in might serene (Chorus)
Track length2:59
Act II Scene 3: Symphony
Track length0:47
Act II Scene 3: Hail, glorious conqueror! (Iphis)
Track length0:23
Act II Scene 3: Air and Chorus: Welcome, as the cheerful light … Welcome thou, whose deeds conspire (Iphis, Chorus)
Track length2:04
Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Horror! Confusion! (Jephtha)
Track length0:27
Act II Scene 3: Air: Open thy marble jaws, O tomb (Jephtha)
Track length3:09
Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Why is my brother thus afflicted? (Zebul, Jephtha)
Track length1:13
Act II Scene 3: Accompagnato and Arioso: First perish thou, and perish all the world! - Let other creatures (Storge)
Track length2:06
Act II Scene 3: Recitative: If such thy cruel purpose, lo, your friend (Hamor)
Track length0:24
Act II Scene 3: Air: On me let blind mistaken zeal (Hamor)
Track length1:54
Act II Scene 3: Quartet: O spare your daughter! (Storge, Hamor, Jephtha, Zebul)
Track length1:57
Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Such news flies swift (Iphis)
Track length1:28
Act II Scene 4: Air: Happy they! (Iphis)
Track length3:08
Act II Scene 4: Accompagnato: Deeper and deeper still, thy goodness, child (Jephtha)
Track length3:02
Act II Scene 4: How dark, O Lord, are thy decrees! (Chorus)
Track length8:49
Act III Scene 1: Arioso: Hide thou thy hated beams (Jephtha)
Track length2:23
Act III Scene 1: Air: Waft her, angels, through the skies (Jephtha)
Track length4:33
Act III Scene 1: Accompagnato: Ye sacred priests, whose hands ne’er yet were stain'd (Iphis)
Track length0:39
Act III Scene 1: Air: Farewell, ye limpid springs and floods (Iphis)
Track length5:24
Act III Scene 1: Doubtful fear and reverend awe (Chorus)
Track length3:19
Act III Scene 1: Symphony
Track length1:16
Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Rise, Jephtha, and ye rev’rend priests, withhold (Angel)
Track length1:14
Act III Scene 1: Air: Happy, Iphis, shalt thou live (Angel)
Track length4:01
Act III Scene 1: Arioso: For ever blessed be Thy holy name (Jephtha)
Track length1:00
Act III Scene 1: Theme sublime of endless praise (Chorus)
Track length4:00
Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Let me congratulate, this happy turn (Zebul)
Track length0:31
Act III Scene 2: Air: Laud her, all ye virgin train (Zebul)
Track length2:05
Act III Scene 2: Recitative: O let me fold thee in a mother's arms (Storge)
Track length0:18
Act III Scene 2: Air: Sweet as sight to the blind (Storge)
Track length2:09
Act III Scene 2: Recitative: With transport, Iphis, I behold thy safety (Hamor)
Track length0:32
Act III Scene 2: Recitative: With transport… - Aria: 'Tis Heaven's all ruling power… (Hamor)
Track length4:51
Act III Scene 2: Recitative: My faithful Hamor, may that Providence (Iphis)
Track length0:22
Act III Scene 2: Quintet: All that is in Hamor mine (Iphis, Hamor, Storge, Jephtha, Zebul)
Track length3:46
Act III Scene 2: Ye house of Gilead, with one voice (Chorus)
Track length3:58
Applause
Track length0:47
Spotlight on this release
Awards and reviews
June 2011
The expressive singing of Collegium Vocale Gent is one of the most attractive elements in Fabio Biondi's live recording of Jephtha. The choir sound more freethan they do under their founder, Philippe Herreweghe...Biondi is a meticulous orchestral trainer. Stavanger Symphony Orchestra adapts well to the stylistic demands of this work
June 2011
James Gilchrist's Jephtha shows tangible horror at his backfired vow...Mona Julsrud is believable as the butter-wouldn't-melt daughter...Biondi whips the Gent chorus into fruity Israelites
July 2011
The Stavanger Symphony Orchestra plays modern instruments in an authoritative baroque style; the crisp overture is neatly detailed...Gilchrist's rapid passagework and florid cadenza in "His mighty arm" are marvellous. The Norwegians Marianne B Kielland and Mona Julsrud are on vibrant form in the love duet "These labours past"
May 2011
Biondi is always a dramatically alert Handelian...I can't fault Gilchrist's beautiful singing of 'Waft her, angels'...It's the crowning moment of a very fine performance. Norwegian soprano Mona Julsrud's bright bell-like tone is perfect for Iphis's 'The smiling dawn of happy days' and 'Tune the soft melodious flute' and there is genuine poignancy as she faces the sacrificial knife.
14th April 2011
this spirited live performance is to be welcomed. James Gilchrist makes a stylish Jephtha, adequately supported by Scandinavian soloists. But the best singing comes from the Collegium Vocale Gent, which is stunning in the magnificent choruses.
