Handel: Nabal

On this CD:

1. Nabal, oratorio (compiled from the music of Handel by J. C. Smith)
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra with Stephan MacLeod, Linda Perillo, Linda Perillo, Francine van der Heijden, Francine van der Heijden
Conducted by Joachim Martini

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
An enjoyable glimpse into a long-defunct genre, Nabal is a pastiche oratorio (or pasticcio) first performed in 1764, some five years after Handel's death. The work was compiled from Handel's music by John Christopher Smith, son of Handel's principal copyist, who inherited the composer's scores in manuscript from his father. Continuing the Handel connection, the libretto is by his old collaborator, Thomas Morell.

The story is another in the then-popular tales from the Old Testament tradition, this time concerning Nabal, a wealthy but mean-spirited old buffer who spurns David when he is in exile from the court of Saul. Nabal's wife Abigail, however, pledges her loyalty to the future king, and when Nabal gets wind of this he promptly dies, leaving Abigail free to become one of David's wives. The music is drawn from a broad and eclectic cross section of operas, oratorios, anthems, and cantatas, with the addition of recitatives attributed to Smith and some tantalizing musical settings simply referred to in the booklet as "source unknown."

In this live concert, recorded during June 2000, the five soloists, who share the arias fairly equally, all do good service. But the chorus lacks a little fire and could be more disciplined, and the same goes for the period-instrument Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra. Conductor Joachim Carlos Martini maintains a brisk pace that helps disguise some of the scrappy sections, however, and the result, if hardly essential, is a curiosity that seasoned Handelians will want to investigate. --Mark Walker

Handel: Nabal, Music, Stephan MacLeod, George Frideric Handel, Joachim Martini, Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra, Francine van der Heijden, Linda Perillo, Maya Boog, Knut Schoch, Choral, Choral Music, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio
Nabal
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Nabal
    Handel , Macleod , Boog , Schoch , and Martini
    Manufacturer: Naxos
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
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    3. Handel: Joseph and his Brethren / Robert King
    4. Handel - Joshua / Kirkby, Bowman, Oliver, Ainsley, George, The King's Consort
    5. Handel: Floridante

    ASIN: B000069CUU
    Release Date: 2002-08-20

    Tracks:

    1. Symphonia - Largo, Allegro, Largo, Minuet
    2. Recitative: Here In The Wilderness Of Paran
    3. Chorus: The Righteous Shall Be Had In Everlasting Remembrance
    4. Accompagnato: Have Mercy On Us, Lord
    5. Air: Food They Ask'd
    6. Recitative: No Doubt
    7. Air: The Lord, Our Guide
    8. Chorus: The Lord, Our Guide
    9. Recitative: How Hard The Woman's Fate
    10. Air: Free From Discord
    11. Recitative: Avaunt, Unpleasing Wretch
    12. Air: Still Fill The Bowl
    13. Ballo And Minuet
    14. Gavotte
    15. Siciliana
    16. Air: Gay And Light As Yonder Sheep
    17. Chorus: Gay And Light As Yonder Sheep
    18. Recitative: 'Tis Carmel's Annual Holiday
    19. Chorus: Happy, While We Reign In Pleasure
    20. Recitative: Asaph, 'Tis Well Advis'd
    21. Air: Great Creator
    22. Chorus: God, Who In Thy Heav'nly Hand
    23. Recitative And Accompagnato: Thus Saith My Lord
    24. Air: Graceful Hearts Enjoy The Blessing
    25. Recitative: Who Is This David?
    26. Air: With Harps New Strung
    27. Solo And Chorus: Come! Come! Live With Pleasure
    28. Air And Chorus: Sing We The Feast
    29. Chorus: Crown With The Festal Pomp The Day

    Tracks:

    1. Accompagnato: Thrice Happy Sheep
    2. Air: Mind Eternal
    3. Recitative: Fly My Good Mistress
    4. Accompagnato: Fell Monster!
    5. Air: Fury In All Thy Terrors Rise
    6. Accompagnato: On Me, My Lord, On Me
    7. Air: Mercy, Thou Heavn'ly Cherub
    8. Accompagnato: Blessed Be The Lord
    9. Chorus: All Creatures Upon God Depend
    10. Interludes - Entree, Entree Des Songes Agreable, Entree Des Songes Funestes, Entree Des Songes Agreables Effrayees, Le Combat Des Songes Funestes Et Agreables
    11. Accompagnato: Ah! Whence This Sudden Dread
    12. Air: Oh! Who Can Tell The Terrors?
    13. Recitative: How Soon The Scene Chang'd
    14. Chorus: By Slow Degrees The Wrath Of God
    15. Recitative: A Messenger, My Lord
    16. Air: When Beauty Sorrow's Livery Wears
    17. Recitative: True Is Your Observation
    18. Air: Lovely Beauty
    19. Recitative: Behold! Thine Handmaid
    20. Air: Come Ye Smiling Hours
    21. Accompagnato: Guardian Angels
    22. Duet: Thrice Happy Pair
    23. Solo And Chorus: Still Caressing
    24. Recitative: In Praise, To Great Jehovah
    25. Duet: Thoughts Sublime
    26. Chorus: O Glorious Prince

    Amazon.com

    An enjoyable glimpse into a long-defunct genre, Nabal is a pastiche oratorio (or pasticcio) first performed in 1764, some five years after Handel's death. The work was compiled from Handel's music by John Christopher Smith, son of Handel's principal copyist, who inherited the composer's scores in manuscript from his father. Continuing the Handel connection, the libretto is by his old collaborator, Thomas Morell.

    The story is another in the then-popular tales from the Old Testament tradition, this time concerning Nabal, a wealthy but mean-spirited old buffer who spurns David when he is in exile from the court of Saul. Nabal's wife Abigail, however, pledges her loyalty to the future king, and when Nabal gets wind of this he promptly dies, leaving Abigail free to become one of David's wives. The music is drawn from a broad and eclectic cross section of operas, oratorios, anthems, and cantatas, with the addition of recitatives attributed to Smith and some tantalizing musical settings simply referred to in the booklet as "source unknown."

    In this live concert, recorded during June 2000, the five soloists, who share the arias fairly equally, all do good service. But the chorus lacks a little fire and could be more disciplined, and the same goes for the period-instrument Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra. Conductor Joachim Carlos Martini maintains a brisk pace that helps disguise some of the scrappy sections, however, and the result, if hardly essential, is a curiosity that seasoned Handelians will want to investigate. --Mark Walker

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