Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & Sir Neville Marriner - Handel: Jephtha (1979/2024)

Jephtha (HWV 70) is an oratorio (1751) by George Frideric Handel with an English language libretto by the Rev. Thomas Morell, based on the story of Jephtha in Judges (Chapter 11) and Jephthes, sive Votum (Jeptha, or the Vow) (1554) by George Buchanan. Whilst writing Jephtha, Handel was increasingly troubled by his gradual loss of sight, and this proved to be his last oratorio. In the autograph score, at the end of the chorus "How dark, O Lord, are thy decrees" he wrote "Reached here on 13 February 1751, unable to go on owing to weakening of the sight of my left eye."

The story revolves around Jephtha's rash promise to the Almighty that if he is victorious, he will sacrifice the first creature he meets on his return. He is met by his beloved daughter Iphis. However, an angel intervenes to stop the sacrifice, and Iphis only needs to dedicate her life to the Lord. This is an unusual interpretation of the Bible story, although one which has been current since the Middle Ages. The more common interpretation is that Jephthah chooses to sacrifice his daughter, but a short reprieve is arranged, after which Iphis dutifully returns and is killed.

Staged performance of material based on biblical subjects was forbidden in Great Britain at the time the work was premiered. Handel's final masterpiece was presented at Covent Garden Theatre on 26 February 1752, with the composer conducting, and with a cast that included John Beard as Jephtha and two divas of the opera stage, Giulia Frasi, Handel's prima donna since 1749, and Caterina Galli. It was presented without scenery or costumes and divided into three acts.

Tracklist
1. Academy of St Martin in the Fields & Sir Neville Marriner – Jephtha, HWV 70: Overture (03:48)
2. Academy of St Martin in the Fields & Sir Neville Marriner – Jephtha, HWV 70: Menuet (01:43)
3. Christopher Keyte – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: It Must Be So (01:26)
4. Christopher Keyte – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: Pour Forth No. More Unheeded Pray'rs (03:15)
5. Southend Boys Choir & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: No. More to Ammon's God and King (02:57)
6. Christopher Keyte – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: But Jephta Comes (01:00)
7. Anthony Rolfe Johnson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: Virtue My Soul Shall Still Embrace (04:04)
8. Alfreda Hodgson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: 'Twill Be a Painful Separation, Jephta - in Gentle Murmurs Will I Mourn (05:17)
9. Paul Esswood – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: Happy This Embassy, My Charming Iphis - Dull Delay, in Piercing Anguish (04:47)
10. Margaret Marshall – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: Ill Suits the Voice of Love When Glory Calls - Take the Heart You Fondly Gave (05:00)
11. Margaret Marshall & Paul Esswood – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: I Go, My soul, Inspir'd - These Labours Past, How Happy We! (06:40)
12. Anthony Rolfe Johnson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: What Mean These Doubtful Fancies (01:29)
13. Southend Boys Choir & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: O God, Behold Our Sore Distress (04:42)
14. Alfreda Hodgson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: Some Dire Event Hangs o'er Our Heads - Scenes of Horror, Scenes of Woe (05:13)
15. Margaret Marshall – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: Say, My Dear Mother (00:51)
16. Margaret Marshall – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: The Smiling Dawn of Happy Days (03:01)
17. Christopher Keyte, Southend Boys Choir & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act I: Such, Jephta - When His Loud Voice (05:06)
18. Paul Esswood – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Glad Tidings of Great Joy to Thee, Dear Iphis (01:10)
19. Southend Boys Choir & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Cherub and Seraphim, Unbodied Forms (03:12)
20. Paul Esswood – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Up the DreadfulSteep Ascending (05:27)
21. Margaret Marshall – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: 'Tis Well - Tune the Soft Melodious Lute (05:06)
22. Christopher Keyte – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Again Heav'n Smiles - Freedom Now Once More Possessing (04:05)
23. Anthony Rolfe Johnson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Zebul, Thy Deeds Were Valiant - His Mighty Arm (06:04)
24. Southend Boys Choir & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: in Glory High, in Might Serene (02:25)
25. Academy of St Martin in the Fields & Sir Neville Marriner – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Symphony (01:18)
26. Margaret Marshall & Southend Boys Choir – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Hail, Glorious Conqueror - Welcome as the Cheerful Ligh (04:02)
27. Anthony Rolfe Johnson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Horror! Confusion! - Open Thy Marble Jaws, O Tomb (04:50)
28. Christopher Keyte – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Why Is My Brother Thus Afflicted (01:14)
29. Alfreda Hodgson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: First Perish Thou, and Perish All the World (02:13)
30. Paul Esswood – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: If Such Thy Cruel Purpose - On Me Let Blind Mistaken Zeal (01:51)
31. Alfreda Hodgson, Paul Esswood, Anthony Rolfe Johnson & Christopher Keyte – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: O Spare Your Daughter (02:40)
32. Margaret Marshall – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Such News Flies Swift - Happy They (04:12)
33. Anthony Rolfe Johnson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: Deeper, and Deeper Still (03:23)
34. Southend Boys Choir & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act II: How Dark, O Lord, Are Thy Decrees! (08:44)
35. Anthony Rolfe Johnson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Hide Thou Thy Hated Beams, O Sun (02:55)
36. Anthony Rolfe Johnson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Waft Her, Angels, Through the Skies (04:48)
37. Margaret Marshall – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Ye Sacred Priests - Farewell, Ye Limpid Springs and Floods (06:02)
38. Southend Boys Choir & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Doubtful Fear and Rev'rent Awe (05:00)
39. Academy of St Martin in the Fields & Sir Neville Marriner – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Symphony (01:28)
40. Dame Emma Kirkby – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Rise, Jephta, and Ye Rev'rend Priests (01:11)
41. Dame Emma Kirkby – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Happy, Iphis Shalt Thou Live (04:43)
42. Anthony Rolfe Johnson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: For Ever Blessed Be Thy Holy Name (01:50)
43. Southend Boys Choir & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Theme Sublime of Endless Praise (03:10)
44. Christopher Keyte – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Let Me Congratulate This Happy Turn - Laud Her, All Ye Virgin Train (01:44)
45. Alfreda Hodgson – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: O Let Me Fold Thee in a Mother's Arms - Sweet as Sight (02:32)
46. Paul Esswood – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: With Transport, Iphis - 'Tis Heaven's All-ruling Power (05:41)
47. Margaret Marshall – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: My Faithful Hamor, May That Providence - All That Is in Hamor Mine (04:21)
48. Southend Boys Choir & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus – Jephtha, HWV 70, Act III: Ye House of Gilead, With One Voice (03:47)