Joseph and his brethren (Handel)
from Handel: Joseph and his Brethren (CDA67171/3)
1 Andante – Larghetto – Allegro – Menuet [6'55]
2 Be firm, my soul! nor faint beneath (Joseph) [5'33]
3 Joseph, thy fame has reach'd great Pharaoh's ear (Phanor/Joseph) [0'46]
4 Come, divine inspirer, come (Joseph) [5'05]
5 Pardon, that I so long forgot thee, Joseph! (Phanor/Joseph) [0'54]
6 Ingratitude's the queen of crimes (Phanor) [2'14]
7 Thus, stranger, I have laid my troubled thoughts (Pharaoh/Joseph) [0'40]
8 O God of Joseph, gracious shed thy spirit on thy servant's head (Egyptians) [1'45]
9 Pharaoh, thy dreams are one (Joseph) [2'25]
10 Divine interpreter! What oracle (Pharaoh/Joseph) [0'39]
11 O lovely youth, with wisdom crown'd (Asenath) [4'01]
12 Wear, worthy man, this Royal signet wear (Pharaoh) [0'33]
13 Joyful sounds, melodious strain! (Egyptians) [2'57]
14 Whence this unwonted ardour in my breast? (Asenath) [0'23]
15 I feel a spreading flame within my veins (Asenath) [7'16]
16 Fair Asenath (Joseph/Pharaoh/Potiphera/Asenath)) [1'08]
17 Celestial virgin! Godlike youth! (Joseph/Asenath) [2'46]
18 Now, Potiphera, instant to the temple (Pharaoh) [0'15]
19 Grand march during the procession [1'28]
20 'Tis done, – the sacred knot is tied (High Priest) [0'12]
21 Immortal pleasures crown this pair (Egyptians) [2'19]
22 Glorious and happy is thy lot, O Zaphnath! (Pharaoh) [0'12]
23 Since the race of time begun (Pharaoh) [2'25]
24 Swift our numbers, swiftly roll (Egyptians) [2'39]
25 Hail, thou youth, by Heaven belov'd! (Egyptians) [4'18]
26 How vast a theme has Egypt for applause! (Phanor/Asenath) [1'06]
27 Our fruits, whilst yet in blossom, die (Asenath) [4'07]
28 He's Egypt's common parent, gives her bread (Phanor) [0'17]
29 Blest be the man by pow'r unstain'd (Egyptians) [4'06]
30 Phanor, we mention not his highest glory! (Asenath/Phanor) [1'28]
31 Together, lovely innocents, grow up (Asenath) [3'05]
32 He then is silent, then again exclaims (Asenath) [0'37]
33 Where are these brethren … why this base delay? (Simeon) [1'56]
34 Remorse, confusion, horror, fear (Simeon) [1'55]
35 This Hebrew prisoner (Phanor/Joseph) [0'34]
36 Ye departed hours (Joseph) [2'03]
37 The peasant tastes the sweets of life (Joseph) [7'45]
38 But Simeon comes (Joseph/Simeon) [3'42]
39 Impostor! Ah! my foul offence (Simeon) [2'56]
40 Whence, Asenath, this grief that hangs upon thee (Joseph/Asenath) [0'44]
41 The silver stream, that all its way (Asenath) [4'52]
42 Tell me, O tell me thy heart's malady (Asenath/Joseph/Phanor/Judah) [1'26]
43 To keep afar from all offence (Judah) [3'42]
44 Thus one, with ev'ry virtue crown'd (Brethren) [1'03]
45 Once more, O pious Zaphnath, at thy feet (Reuben/Judah) [1'38]
46 This kiss, my gracious Lord (Benjamin/Joseph/Judah) [1'20]
47 Thou deign'st to call thy servant 'son' (Benjamin) [2'23]
48 Sweet innocence! divine simplicity! (Joseph/Benjamin/Reuben/Judah) [1'22]
49 O God, who in thy heav'nly hand (Brethren) [4'14]
50 Allegro [1'28]
51 What say'st thou, Phanor? Prove these strangers then (Asenath/Phanor) [0'27]
52 The wanton favours of the great (Phanor) [1'34]
53 Whence so disturb'd, my Lord? Let not the crime (Asenath/Joseph) [0'46]
54 Ah Jealousy, thou pelican (Asenath) [4'39]
55 O wrong me not! thy Zaphnath never harbour'd (Joseph/Asenath) [1'20]
56 The people's favour, and the smiles of pow'r (Joseph) [3'28]
57 Art thou not Zaphnath? Is not Egypt sav'd (Asenath) [0'25]
58 Prophetic raptures swell my breast (Asenath) [7'27]
59 They come, – and indignation in their looks (Joseph/Simeon/Phanor/Benjamin) [1'30]
60 What! without me? Ah, how return in peace! (Benjamin) [0'52]
61 O pity! (Benjamin/Joseph) [2'49]
62 To prison with him! (Joseph/Simeon/Reuben) [1'50]
63 O gracious God (Simeon) [1'15]
64 Eternal Monarch of the sky (Brethren) [3'16]
65 But peace, Zaphnath returns (Simeon/Joseph/Judah) [1'50]
66 Thou hadst, my Lord (Simeon) [1'58]
67 Give, give him up the lad (Simeon) [0'56]
68 I can no longer (Joseph/Brethren) [1'31]
69 Whilst the Nile and Memphis (Asenath/Joseph) [0'45]
70 What's sweeter than the new-blown rose? (Asenath/Joseph) [2'54]
71 With songs of ardent gratitude and praise (Joseph) [0'19]
72 Alleluia. We will rejoice in thy salvation [2'01]
163 minutes 29 seconds 72 tracks
‘I have no reservations about encouraging anyone interested in Handel to buy this set and to acquaint themselves with the many delights of this grossly neglected work’ (Gramophone)
‘With first-rate casts and careful attention to Handel's original texts, King has blown the dust off some magnificent music’ (BBC Record Review)
‘This is as fine a case as one could imagine being made for the work’ (American Record Guide)