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HMX 2907358.59 GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Susanna + Theodora (selections) (Selections) 5 9 Susanna Susanna: Susanna: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson soprano (Susanna) What means this weight that is my bosom lies, Crystal streams in murmurs flowing, Drew Minter countertenor (Joacim) What mean these shades that swim before my eyes? Balmy breezes gently blowing, Jill Feldman soprano (Daniel) If ought prophetic in this breast I feel, Rob of sweets the jasmine bow’r: William Parker baritone (Chelsias, Judge) Portending good, oh! quick the same reveal; Bow the pine that shade yon mountain, Jeffrey Thomas tenor (First Elder) Let Joacim, my husband, find it all; Curl the softly trickling fountain, David Thomas bass (Second Elder) If bad, on me alone the danger fall. Cool the noontide’s raging pow’r. U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus Philip Brett director Bending to the throne of glory, 10 Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra This alone, great God, I crave: Susanna: Nicholas McGegan Let me innocent before you Deceitful wolves! who left in truth’s defense, Rise from the devouring grave. Wrong the high trust, and prey on innocence. 1 If Thy will is now requiring Desist, rash men! nor press my trembling hand, Chorus: That I die before my time, Lest I awake the vengeance of the land. How Long, oh Lord! shall Israel groan, All my longing soul’s desiring In slav’ry and pain, Is to fall without a crime. Second Elder: Jehovah! hear thy people’s moan, Thou foolish woman: will thy ’plaints avail And break th’oppressor’s chain! 6 When our grave tongues repeat the well-forg’d ta First Elder: Will those suspect to whom your grief complains 2 Ye verdant hills, ye balmy vales, That blood could riot in an Elder’s veins? Joacim: Bear witness of my pain; When thou art nigh How oft have Shinar’s flow’ry dales Susanna: My pulse beats high Been taught my amorous strain! Away, away! And raptures swell my breast. The wounded oaks in yonder grove Ye tempt me both in vain! Retain the name of her I love. Susanna: First Elder: Search, search my mind In vain would age his ice bespread, Yet stay, yet stay, And there you’ll find To numb each gay desire, And hear my love-sick strain! Your lovely form impress’d. Tho’ sev’nty winters hoar my head, My heart is still on fire. Second Elder: Both: By mossy fount and grot I rove I scorn to intreat With joy in their wings the young moments shall fly, And gently murmur songs of love. When by force I may gain And chase ev’ry cloud that would darken the sky, Relief to my sorrows, If thou art but present my cares to beguile, Oh sweetest of thy lovely race, and ease to my pain! Oppression is soften’d, and bondage will smile. Unveil thy matchless charms; Let me adore that angel’s face, 11 3 And die within thy arms. Susanna: Chelsias: My ceaseless pangs thy bosom move If guiltless blood be your intent, Peace, crown’d with roses, on your slumbers wait, And grant the just returns of love. I here resign it all; And joyous plenty guard the op’ning gate. Fearless of death, as innocent, 7 I triumph in my fall. 4 Second Elder: And if to fate my days must run, Joacim: The oak, that for a thousand years Oh righteous heav’n! thy will be done. The parent bird in search of food Withstood the tempest’s might, A while deserts her callow brood; Like me, the darted light’ning fears, Second Elder (interrupting her): What torments wring her anxious breast, And flames with sudden light; Quick to her fate the loose adult’ress bear, Lest some rude hand despoil her nest. Curs’d be the day, and curs’d the fatal hour Fair to the eye, yet falser than she’s fair. But when she homeward does repair That brought my age into a woman’s pow’r. And finds each flutt’ring infant there, (Susanna repeats the air “If guiltless blood”) The joy she feels, my soul explain, 8 When next my fair I greet again. Chorus: 12 Righteous heav’n beholds their guile, Daniel: And forbears his wrath awhile. Chastity, thou cherub bright, Yet his bolt shall quickly fly, Gentle as the dawn of light, Darted thro’ the flaming sky. Soft as music’s dying strain! Tremble guilt, for thou shalt find, Teach the fair how vain is beauty, Wrath divine outstrips the wind. When she breaks the bounds of duty, Vain are charms, and graces vain. HANDEL SUSANNA + THEODORA 1 PBO • McGEGAN HMX 2907358.59 GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Susanna + Theodora (selections) 13 (Selections) 7 Chelsias: Theodora With Darkness, deep as is my woe Raise your voice to sounds of joy, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson soprano (Theodora) Hide me, ye shades of Night; Pierce the list’ning skies; Drew Minter countertenor (Didymus) Your thickest veil around me throw, Impious hopes themselves destroy, Jeffrey Thomas tenor (Septimius) Conceal’d from human sight. But virtue gains the prize. Jennifer Lane mezzo-soprano (Irene) Or come thou, Death, thy Victim save, David Thomas bass (Valens) Kindly embosom’d in the Grave. Chorus: U.C. Berkeley Chamber Chorus Bless’d be the day that gave Susanna birth, John Butt director 8 The chastest beauty that e’er grac’d the earth. Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Interlude: Symphony of Soft Musick Nicholas McGegan 14 9 1 Susanna: Oh! that I on wings could rise, Guilt trembling spoke my doom, Ouverture Swiftly sailing through the skies, And vice her joy display’d. As skims the silver Dove; 2 Till truth dispell’d the gloom And came to virtue’s aid. from Act I, Scene 5 That I might rest, For ever blest, Kind heav’n, my pray’rs receive, Theodora: With Harmony, & Love. They’re due alone to thee, Angels, ever bright & fair, Oppression’s left to grieve, Take, O take me to your Care; 10 And innocence is free. from Act II, Scene 4 Speed to your own Courts my Flight, 15 Clad in Robes of Virgin White. Irene: Joacim: Defend her, Heav’n; let Angels spread 3 To my chaste Susanna’s praise Their viewless Tents around her Bed; I’ll the swelling note prolong. from Act I, Scene 6 Keep her from Vile Assaults secure, Susanna: Didymus: Still ever calm, & ever pure. While my grateful voice I raise, Kind Heav’n, if Virtue be thy Care Thy dear name shall grace the song. With Courage fire me, 11 Or Art inspire me, from Act II, Scene 5 Joacim: To free the captive Fair. – Duet: Echo, catch the tender strains, On the Wings of the Wind will I fly, Theodora: Susanna: With this Princess to live, To Thee, Thou glorious Son of Worth, – On thy wings, the music bear, or this Christian to die. Didymus: 4 Both: To Thee whose Virtues suit thy Birth, – ’Til it reach the distant plains, from Act II, Scene 1 Dying, in the void of air. Theodora: Chorus: Be Life & Safety giv’n. 16 Venus laughing from the skies, Chorus: Will applaud her Votaries. – Didymus: A virtuous wife shall soften fortune’s frown When seizing the Treasure, Be every Blessing giv’n. She’s far more precious than a golden crown. We revel in Pleasure, – Revenge sweet Love supplies. Both: All texts and translations Ꭿ harmonia mundi usa I hope again to meet on Earth, 5 But sure shall meet in Heav’n. from Act II, Scene 2 Interlude 12 from Act II, Scene 6 6 from Act II, Scene 2 Chorus: He saw the lovely Youth, Theodora: Death’s early Prey, O Thou bright Sun! How sweet thy Rays Alas! too early snatch’d away! To Health, & Liberty! but here, alas! He heard his mother’s funeral cries: They swell the agonizing Thought of Shame, Rise, Youth, He said; And pierce my soul with sorrows yet unknown The Youth begins to rise! Lowly the Matron bow’d, & bore away the Prize! HANDEL SUSANNA + THEODORA 2 PBO • McGEGAN HMX 2907358.59 GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Susanna + Theodora (selections) 13 Duet –Theodora & Didymus: from Act III, Scene 1 Thither let our Hearts aspire: Objects pure of pure Desire, Irene: Still encreasing, Lord, to Thee each Night & Day, Ever pleasing, Strong in Hope, we sing & pray: Wake the Song, & tune the Lyre, Of the blissfull holy Choir. Tho’ convulsive rocks the Ground, And thy Thunders roll around; 18 Still to Thee, each Night & Day, from Act III, Scene 7 We sing & pray. Irene & Chorus: 14 O Love Divine, Thou Source of Fame, from Act III, Scene 2 Of Glory, & all Joy; Let equal Fire our Souls inflame, Chorus: And equal Zeal employ. Blest be the Hand, & blest the Pow’r, That we the glorious Spring may know, That in this dark, & dangerous Hour, Whose Streams appear’d so bright below. Sav’d Thee from cruel strife. All texts and translations Ꭿ harmonia mundi usa Theodora & Chorus: Lord, favour still the kind Intent, And bless thy gracious Instrument With Liberty & Life. 15 from Act III, Scene 5 Septimus: From Virtue springs each gen’rous deed That claims our gratefull Pray’r: Let Justice for the Hero plead, And Pity save the Fair. 16 from Act III, Scene 5 Valens: Ye Ministers of Justice, lead them hence, I cannot, will not bear such Insolence. And as our Gods they honour, or despise, Fall they their Supplicants, or Sacrifice. 17 from Act III, Scene 6 Didymus: Streams of Pleasure ever flowing, Fruits ambrosial ever growing, Golden Thrones, Starry Crowns, Are the Triumphs of the Blest.