Alexander's Feast

Handel (Artist), Christophers (Artist), The Sixteen (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 23, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collins Classics
• ASIN: B000003W18
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,048,771 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 1: Overture - The Sixteen Orch/Harry Christophers

2. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 1: Recitative, 'Twas At The Royal Feast' - Ian Partridge

3. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 1: Aria, happy Pair - Ian Partridge/The Sixteen Chor/Harry Christophers

4. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 1: Recitative, Timotheus Plac'd On High - Ian Partridge

5. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Harp Concerto Op. 4, no. 6 In B Flat~Allegro - Andrew Lawrence-King

6. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Harp Concerto Op. 4, no. 6 In B Flat~Larghetto - Andrew Lawrence-King

7. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Harp Concerto Op. 4, no. 6 In B Flat~Allegro Moderato - Andrew Lawrence-King

8. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 1: Recitative, The Song Began From Jove - Nancy Argenta

9. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 1: Chorus, The List'ning Crowd - The Sixteen Chor/Harry Christophers

10. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 1: Aria, With Ravish'd Ears - Nancy Argenta

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 2: Recitative, Now Strike The Golden Lyre Again - Ian Partridge/The Sixteen Chor/Harry Christophers

2. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 2: Aria, Revenge, Timotheus Cries - Michael George

3. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 2: Recitative, Give The Vengence Due - Ian Partridge

4. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 2: Aria, The Princes Applaud With A Furious Joy - Ian Partridge

5. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 2: Aria, Thais Led The way - Nancy Argenta/The Sixteen Chor/Harry Christophers

6. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 2: Recitative, Thus Long Ago - Ian Partridge

7. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 2: Chorus, At Last Divine Cecilia Came

8. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 2: Recitative, Let Old Timotheus Yield The Prize

9. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Part 2: Chorus, Let Old Timotheus Yeild The Prize

10. Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 75: Organ Concerto Op. 4, No. 1 In G Minor (Solo Organ)~Movement I, Larghetto, E St

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but too much noise for a modern recording, May 29, 2002

By 

anon (barnstable, ma USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander's Feast (Audio CD)

I bought this Handel piece thinking it might be as light and beautiful as the Rameau operas by William Christie. Those (Les Fetes D'Hebe, Pygmalian) are outstanding, at times breathtaking
in their beauty, and always very light and pleasant - very Mozartian, really, and I mean Mozart at his best.
Handel, on the other hand, seems a bit heavy by comparison, which is not such an attractive attribute for baroque. His German temperament shines through - sounds a bit like Beethoven
meets Vivaldi, with Beethoven usually getting the upper hand. Also he seems burdened by his English dialogue - a real disadvantage because it makes it impossible for an English speaking listener to ignore the often corny lyrics. Still,
the music is darn good, and at times very good indeed, to use a Gramaphone phrase, and the singing is wonderful. Voices are very forward, which I prefer. My only real complaint is the surprising amount of tape hiss in a recording that claims to be digital. Did they add some for old times sake? Old times weren't always that great...
Overall I recommend this, because I love good singing, and because, like all good baroque (at least, all that I've heard so far) it's very easy to listen too.