The King'S Consort, Robert King - Handel: Joseph and His Brethren (1996)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Overture. Andante – Larghetto – Allegro – Menuet
02. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 1, Be Firm, My Soul! Nor Faint Beneath (Joseph)
03. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 2, No. 1, Recit. Joseph, Thy Fame Has Reach'd Great Pharaoh's Ear (Phanor/Joseph)
04. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 2, No. 2, Air. Come, Divine Inspirer, Come (Joseph)
05. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 2, No. 3, Recit. Pardon, That I So Long Forgot Thee, Joseph! (Phanor/Joseph)
06. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 2, No. 4, Air. Ingratitude's the Queen of Crimes (Phanor)
07. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 3, No. 1, Recit. Thus, Stranger, I Have Laid My Troubled Thoughts (Pharaoh/Joseph)
08. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 3, No. 2, Chorus. O God of Joseph, Gracious Shed Thy Spirit on Thy Servant's Head (Egyptians)
09. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 3, No. 3, Accompagnato. Pharaoh, Thy Dreams Are One (Joseph)
10. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 3, No. 4, Recit. Divine Interpreter! What Oracle (Pharaoh/Joseph)
11. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 3, No. 5, Air. O Lovely Youth, with Wisdom Crown'd (Asenath)
12. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 3, No. 6, Recit. Wear, Worthy Man, This Royal Signet Wear (Pharaoh)
13. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 3, No. 7, Chorus. Joyful Sounds, Melodious Strain! (Egyptians)
14. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 4, No. 1, Recit. Whence This Unwonted Ardour in My Breast? (Asenath)
15. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 4, No. 2, Air. I Feel a Spreading Flame Within My Veins (Asenath)
16. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 4, No. 3, Recit. Fair Asenath (Joseph/Pharaoh/Potiphera/Asenath))
17. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 5, No. 1, Duet. Celestial Virgin! Godlike Youth! (Joseph/Asenath)
18. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 5, No. 2, Recit. Now, Potiphera, Instant to the Temple (Pharaoh)
19. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 5, No. 3. Grand March During the Procession
20. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 6, No. 1, Recit. 'Tis Done, – the Sacred Knot Is Tied (High Priest)
21. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 6, No. 2, Chorus. Immortal Pleasures Crown This Pair (Egyptians)
22. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 6, No. 3, Recit. Glorious and Happy Is Thy Lot, O Zaphnath! (Pharaoh)
23. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 6, No. 4, Air. Since the Race of Time Begun (Pharaoh)
24. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 1: Scene 6, No. 5, Chorus. Swift Our Numbers, Swiftly Roll (Egyptians)

CD2
01. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 1, No. 1, Chorus. Hail, Thou Youth, by Heaven Belov'd! (Egyptians)
02. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 1, No. 2, Recit. How Vast a Theme Has Egypt for Applause! (Phanor/Asenath)
03. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 1, No. 3, Air. Our Fruits, Whilst Yet in Blossom, Die (Asenath)
04. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 1, No. 4, Recit. He's Egypt's Common Parent, Gives Her Bread (Phanor)
05. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 1, No. 5, Chorus. Blest Be the Man by Pow'r Unstain'd (Egyptians)
06. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 1, No. 6, Recit. Phanor, We Mention Not His Highest Glory! (Asenath/Phanor)
07. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 1, No. 7, Air. Together, Lovely Innocents, Grow Up (Asenath)
08. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 1, No. 8, Recit. He Then Is Silent, Then Again Exclaims (Asenath)
09. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 2, No. 1, Accompagnato. Where Are These Brethren - Why This Base Delay? (Simeon)
10. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 2, No. 2, Air. Remorse, Confusion, Horror, Fear (Simeon)
11. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 3, No. 1, Recit. This Hebrew Prisoner (Phanor/Joseph)
12. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 3, No. 2, Accompagnato. Ye Departed Hours (Joseph)
13. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 3, No. 3, Air. The Peasant Tastes the Sweets of Life (Joseph)
14. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 3, No. 4, Scene 4, No. 1. Recit. But Simeon Comes (Joseph/Simeon)
15. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 4, No. 2, Air. Impostor! Ah! My Foul Offence (Simeon)
16. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 5, No. 1, Recit. Whence, Asenath, This Grief That Hangs upon Thee (Joseph/Asenath)
17. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 5, No. 2, Air. The Silver Stream, That All Its Way (Asenath)
18. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 5, No. 3, Scene 6, No. 1. Recit. Tell Me, O Tell Me Thy Heart's Malady (Asenath/Joseph/Phanor/Judah)
19. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 6, No. 2, Air. To Keep Afar from All Offence (Judah)
20. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 6, No. 3, Chorus. Thus One, with Ev'ry Virtue Crown'd (Brethren)
21. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 7, No. 1, Accompagnato. Once More, O Pious Zaphnath, at Thy Feet (Reuben/Judah)
22. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 7, No. 2, Recit. This Kiss, My Gracious Lord (Benjamin/Joseph/Judah)
23. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 7, No. 3, Air. Thou Deign'st to Call Thy Servant 'Son' (Benjamin)
24. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 7, No. 4, Recit. Sweet Innocence! Divine Simplicity! (Joseph/Benjamin/Reuben/Judah)
25. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 2: Scene 7, No. 5, Chorus. O God, Who in Thy Heav'nly Hand (Brethren)

CD3
01. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Overture, Sinfonia. Allegro
02. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 1, No. 1, Recit. What Say'st Thou, Phanor? Prove These Strangers Then (Asenath/Phanor)
03. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 1, No. 2, Air. The Wanton Favours of the Great (Phanor)
04. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 2, No. 1, Recit. Whence So Disturb'd, My Lord? Let Not the Crime (Asenath/Joseph)
05. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 2, No. 2, Air. Ah Jealousy, Thou Pelican (Asenath)
06. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 2, No. 3, Recit. O Wrong Me Not! Thy Zaphnath Never Harbour'd (Joseph/Asenath)
07. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 2, No. 4, Air. The People's Favour, and the Smiles of Pow'r (Joseph)
08. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 2, No. 5, Recit. Art Thou Not Zaphnath? Is Not Egypt Sav'd (Asenath)
09. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 2, No. 6, Air. Prophetic Raptures Swell My Breast (Asenath)
10. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 2, No. 7 - Scene 3 - Scene 4, No. 1. Recit. They Come – and Indignation in Their Looks (Joseph/Simeon/Phanor/Benjamin)
11. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 4, No. 2, Accompagnato. What! Without Me? Ah, How Return in Peace! (Benjamin)
12. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 4, No. 3, Arioso. O pity! (Benjamin/Joseph)
13. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 4, No. 4, Recit. To Prison with Him! (Joseph/Simeon/Reuben)
14. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 4, No. 5, Arioso. O Gracious God (Simeon)
15. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 4, No. 6, Chorus. Eternal Monarch of the Sky (Brethren)
16. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 5, No. 1. But Peace, Zaphnath Returns (Simeon/Joseph/Judah)
17. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 5, No. 2, Air. Thou Hadst, My Lord (Simeon)
18. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 5, No. 3, Recit. Give, Give Him Up the Lad (Simeon)
19. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 5, No. 4, Recit. I Can No Longer (Joseph/Brethren)
20. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 6, No. 1, Recit. Whilst the Nile and Memphis (Asenath/Joseph)
21. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 6, No. 2, Duet. What's Sweeter Than the New-Blown Rose? (Asenath/Joseph)
22. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 6, No. 3, Recit. With Songs of Ardent Gratitude and Praise (Joseph)
23. Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Pt. 3: Scene 6, No. 4, Chorus. Alleluia. We Will Rejoice in Thy Salvation

Joseph and his Brethren, the latest in The King's Consort's mammoth series of recordings of the grand oratorios of Handel, tells the story of Joseph, sold into slavery by his perfidious brothers, winning acceptance at the court of Pharaoh in Egypt by his interpretation of the dreams foretelling seven years of plenty, and seven of famine. His brothers come from drought-ridden Israel to beg for food, and are eventually reunited with Joseph.

The work is characteristically full of melodic invention and drama, culminating in the scene between Joseph and his youngest—and innocent—brother Benjamin (here sung by the stunning treble Connor Burrowes) in which Joseph is emotionally overcome and admits his true identity. No wonder the work was so warmly received at its first performance.

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