The Sixteen & Harry Christophers - Acis and Galatea (2019) FLAC

Handel’s pastoral opera is a tale of love, tragedy and liberation. The libretto by John Gay, based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses (book XIII), tells of the eternal love between the mortal shepherd Acis and goddess Galatea and how it is doomed by the jealous cyclops Polyphemus. Handel’s music beautifully demonstrates the pain and love in such beautiful, dramatic choruses as ‘Wretched lovers!’ and the grief felt by Galatea in ‘Must I my Acis still bemoan’. Staying true to the premiere in 1718, just five singers and nine instrumentalists feature on this intimate recording.

Tracklist
01. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act I: Sinfonia
02. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act I: O, The Pleasure Of The Plains! (Chorus)
03. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act I: Ye Verdant Plains (Galatea)
04. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act I: Hush, Ye Pretty Warbling Quire! (Galatea)
05. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act I: Where Shall I Seek The Charming Fair? (Acis)
06. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act I: Stay, Shepherd, Stay!-Shepherd, What Art Thou Pursuing? (Damon)
07. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act I: Lo, Here My Love-Love In Her Eyes Sits Playing (Acis)
08. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act I: Oh, Didst Thou Know The Pains-As When The Dove (Galatea)
09. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act I: Happy We! (Galatea, Acis)
01. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Wretched Lovers! (Chorus)
02. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: I Rage — I Melt — I Burn! (Polyphemus)
03. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: O Ruddier Than The Cherry (Polyphemus)
04. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Whither, Fairest (Polyphemus, Galatea)
05. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Cease To Beauty To Be Suing (Polyphemus)
06. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Would You Gain The Tender Creature (Coridon)
07. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: His Hideous Love-Love Sounds Th'alarm (Acis)
08. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Consider, Fond Shepherd (Damon)
09. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Cease, Oh Cease (Galatea)
10. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: The Flocks Shall Leave The Mountains (Galatea, Acis, Polyphemus)
11. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Help, Galatea! (Acis)
12. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Mourn, All Ye Muses! (Chorus)
13. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Must I My Acis Still Bemoan-'Tis Done! (Galatea, Chorus)
14. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Heart, The Seat Of Soft Delight (Galatea)
15. Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Galatea, Dry Thy Tears (Chorus)