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Belshazzar HWV 61

Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert, The Choir of the English Concert, Arleen Augér (Soprano), James Bowman (Alto), David Wilson-Johnson (Bass), Catherine Robbin (Alto), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Tenor), Nicolas Robertson (Tenor), Richard Wistreich (Bass)
1990, London, Henry Wood Hall

  • Act I

    • 1. Overture
      04:38
    • 2. 'Vain, fluctuating state of human empire' (Nitocris)
      05:06
    • 3. 'Thou, God most high, and Thou alone' (Nitocris)
      04:00
    • 4. 'The fate of Babylon, I fear, is nigh' (Nitocris, Daniel)
      01:15
    • 5. 'Lament not thus, oh Queen, in vain!' (Daniel)
      04:55
    • 6. 'Behold, by Persia's hero made' (Chorus)
      02:49
    • 7. 'Well may they laugh' - 'Oh memory! Still bitter to my soul!' (Gobrias, Cyrus)
      01:19
    • 8. 'Oppres'd with never-ceasing grief' (Gobrias)
      03:33
    • 9. 'Dry those unavailing tears' (Cyrus)
      02:13
    • 10. 'Be comforted: safe though the tyrant seem' - 'Methought, as on the bank of deep Euphrates' (Cyrus)
      02:35
    • 11. 'Now, tell me, Gobrias' (Cyrus, Gobrias)
      01:14
    • 12. 'Behold the monstrous human beast' (Gobrias)
      03:16
    • 13. 'Can you then think it strange' (Cyrus)
      00:16
    • 14. 'Great God! who, yet but darkly known' (Cyrus)
      03:49
    • 15. 'My friends, be confident' Cyrus)
      00:41
    • 16. 'All empires upon God depend' (Chorus)
      03:15
    • 17. 'Oh sacred oracles of Truth!' (Daniel)
      05:14
    • 18. 'Rejoice, my countrymen' - 'Thus saith the Lord to Cyrus' (Daniel)
      03:00
    • 19. 'Sing, oh ye heav'ns!' (Chorus)
      04:11

  • Act II

    • 1. 'Let festal joy triumphant reign!' (Belshazzar)
      05:03
    • 2. 'For you, my friends' (Belshazzar, Nitocris)
      00:54
    • 3. 'The leafy honours of the field' (Nitocris)
      07:34
    • 4. 'It is the custom, I may say, the law' (Nitocris, Belshazzar)
      01:23
    • 5. 'Recall, oh king! thy rash command' (Chorus)
      03:54
    • 6. 'They tell you true' (Nitocris, Belshazzar)
      01:23
    • 7. 'Oh dearer than my life, forebear!' (Nitocris, Belshazzar)
      07:15
    • 8. 'By slow degrees the wrath of God' (Chorus)
      04:16
    • 9. 'See, from his post Euphrates flies!' (Chorus)
      06:27
    • 10. 'You see, my friends, a path' (Cyrus)
      00:46
    • 11. 'Amaz'd to find the foe so near' (Cyrus)
      04:24
    • 12. 'To arms, to arms! no more delay!' (Chorus)
      00:35
    • 13. 'Ye tutelar gods of our empire' (Chorus)
      02:59
    • 14. 'Let the deep bowl thy praise confess' (Belshazzar)
      02:38
    • 15. 'Where is the God of Judah's boasted pow'r?' (Belshazzar)
      02:41
    • 16. 'Call all my Wise Men' (Belshazzar)
      00:26
    • 17. A Sinfony
      01:43
    • 18. 'Ye sages! welcome always to your king' - 'Alas! too hard a task the king imposes' (Belshazzar)
      01:06
    • 19. 'Oh misery! Oh terror, hopeless grief!' (Chorus)
      01:50
    • 20. 'Oh king, live for ever!' (Nitocris, Belshazzar)
      01:40
    • 21. 'No! to thyself thy trifles be' (Daniel)
      01:31
    • 22. 'Yet, to obey his dread command' (Daniel)
      03:13
    • 23. 'Oh sentence too severe!' - 'Regard, oh son, my flowing tears' (Nitocris)
      06:57
    • 24. 'Oh God of Truth! oh faithful guide!' (Cyrus)
      04:37
    • 25. 'You, Gobrias, lead directly to the palace' (Cyrus)
      01:02
    • 26. 'Oh glorious prince!' (Chorus)
      04:41

  • Act III

    • 1. 'Alternate hopes and fears' (Nitocris)
      04:28
    • 2. 'Fain would I hope' (Nitocris, Daniel)
      00:23
    • 3. 'Can the black Aethiop change his skin?' (Daniel)
      02:26
    • 4. 'My hopes revive' (Nitocris, Arioch, Messenger)
      01:51
    • 5. 'Bel boweth down!' (Chorus)
      01:31
    • 6. 'I thank thee, Sesach!' (Belshazzar)
      01:38
    • 7. A Martial Symphony
      00:39
    • 8. 'To pow'r immortal my first thanks' (Gobrias)
      02:45
    • 9. 'Be it thy care, good Gobrias' (Cyrus) - 'Destructive War, thy limits know' (Cyrus)
      02:55
    • 10. 'Great victor, at your feet I bow' (Nitocris, Cyrus)
      03:59
    • 11. 'Say, venerable prophet' (Cyrus)
      00:56
    • 12. 'Tell it out among the heathen' (Chorus)
      01:38
    • 13. 'Yes, I will build thy city' (Cyrus)
      02:22
    • 14. 'I will magnify thee' (Daniel, Nitocris, Chorus)
      05:28

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