Handel - Solomon HWV 67 (Beecham)
8,341
Published 2020-05-26
Beecham is recognized as the one responsible for reviving the music of Handel. One of the operas he revived was Handel's Solomon, which was performed under his baton for the first time since the 18th century. He is credited with giving the title, "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" of the sinfonia that begins Act 3.
This is personally my favorite recording because of his conjunctional use of tempi, his unrestrained emphasis on the lush choral harmonies, and his patent commitment to bring out the humanity of the work by making everyone sing as intensive and emotional as possible. Also, the title role of Solomon is sung by a baritone instead of a countertenor :). And it works! I also do not mind the abridgment of the opera.
Overture 0:00
ACT 1
Your harps and cymbals sound (Chorus) 4:17
Almighty Power, who rul’st the earth and skies (Recitative - Solomon) 8:15
With pious heart and holy tongue (Chorus) 10:45
Imperial Solomon, thy prayers are heard (Recitative - Zadok) 15:25
Sacred raptures cheer my breast (Aria - Zadok) 16:09
Blest be the Lord (Recitative - Solomon) 21:14
What though I trace each herb and flower (Aria - Solomon) 21:50
Blessed be the day (Aria - Queen) 25:21
Thou fair inhabitant of Nile (Recitative - Solomon, Queen) 30:55
Welcome as the dawn of day (Duet - Solomon, Queen) 31:48
When thou art absent from my sight (Recitative - Queen) 35:57
With thee the unsheltered moor I’d tread (Aria - Queen) 36:14
My blooming fair, come, come away (Recitative - Solomon) 39:30
May no rash intruder disturb their soft hours “Nightingale Chorus” (Chorus) 39:46
ACT 3 (with parts from ACT 2)
Sinfonia “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” 43:45
From Arabia’s spicy shores (Recitative - Queen of Sheba) 46:55
Every sight these eyes behold (Aria - Queen of Sheba) 47:26
Sweep, sweep the string to soothe the royal fair (Aria - Solomon) 52:17
Music spread thy voice around (Aria and Chorus - Solomon) 52:39
Now a different measure ( Solomon and Chorus) 56:54
Then at once from rage remove (Recitative - Solomon) 58:56
Draw the tear from hopeless love (Chorus) 59:40
Next the tortur’d soul release (Recitative - Solomon) 1:02:43
Thus rolling surges rise (Solomon and Chorus) 1:03:07
Thy harmony’s divine (Recitative - Queen of Sheba) 1:05:10
From the censer curling rise (Chorus) 1:06:54
From the East unto the West (Chorus) 1:12:51
Thrice happy king (Recitative - Zadok) 1:16:04
Golden columns fair and bright (Aria - Zadok) 1:17:12
**Beneath the vine (Aria - Queen of Sheba) 1:20:32
Gold now is common (Recitative - Solomon) 1:23:52
How green our fertile pastures look (Aria - Solomon) 1:24:32
Swell the full chorus to Solomon’s praise (Chorus) 1:28:53
May peace in Salem ever dwell (Recitative - Queen of Sheba) 1:32:38
Will the sun forget to streak (Aria - Queen of Sheba) 1:33:44
Adieu, fair queen (Recitative - Solomon) 1:38:55
Praise the Lord (Chorus) 1:39:13
**Originally scored for the harlot in Act 2, but Beecham completely omitted the harlot characters
CAST
Solomon, king (baritone): James Cameron
Queen, Pharaoh’s daughter (soprano): Elsie Morison
Nicaule, Queen of Sheba (soprano): Lois Marshall
Zadok, The High Priest (tenor): Alexander Young
Beecham Choral Society
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Directed and Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham
All Comments (10)
-
Прославился
-
Bendiciones, gracias por los grandes músicos, que nos hacen transcender y elevar el Espíritu. FELICITACIONES. Así toda nuestra existencia se convierte en una eterna SINFONÍA Y Alabanza a nuestro Creador y Hacedor.🙏👏💗🤩😇🕊🌎
-
This is an utterly sublime and uniquely and unforgetable performance.
-
El mejor Solomon que he escuchado. Gracias.
-
Maravilloso. Vale la pena vivir para escuchar una extraordinaria interpretación de Handel. Gracias por compartirla!!
-
Thank for you posting this wonderful performance!
-
Goodness Gracious! "...All is pious; All is great..." Thank you so much! (A new subscriber. )
-
Solomon de Beechan , Handel: Magistral.
-
Англійська в бароковій опері звучить, абсолютно недоречно. Це неможливо слухати! Зіпсований відатний музичний матеріал. Сумно.