A dark, pessimistic work, Belshazzar casts an uncompromising gaze on the fate of empires and those who govern them. In 2013, William Christie and Les Arts Florissants recorded a noble and majestic account of this formidable oratorio. The Times proclaimed "Belshazzar is delivered with ringing zest by Allan Clayton, Rosemary Joshua and other top Brits, and an orchestra forever on the boil."

Track List

1. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61: Overture
2. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 1: Accompagnato Ed Arioso. Vain Fluctuating State of Human Empire!
3. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 1: Aria. Thou God Most High and Thou Alone
4. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scenes 1-2: Recitative. the Fate of Babylon I Fear Is Nigh - Recitative. O Much Belov'd
5. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 2: Air. Lament Not Thus O Queen in Vain!
6. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 3: Chorus of Babylonians. Behold By Persia's Hero Made
7. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 3: Recitative. Well May They Laugh from Meagre Famine Safe - Accompagnato. Oh Memory
8. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 3: Aria. Opprest with Never Ceasing Grief
9. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 3: Aria. Dry Those Unavailing Tears
10. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 3: Recitative. Be Comforted Safe Tho' the Tyrant Seem - Accompagnato. Methought As on the Bank of Deep Euphrates - Recitative. Now Tell Me Gobrias
11. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 3: Aria. Behold the Monstrous Human Beast - Recitative. Can You Then Think It Strange If Drown'd in Wine
12. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 3: Aria. Great God! Who Yet But Darkly Known - Recitative. My Friends Be Confident and Boldly Enter
13. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 3: Chorus. All Empires Upon God Depend
14. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 4: Arioso. O Sacred Oracles of Truth!
15. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 4: Accompagnato. Rejoice My Countrymen the Time Draws Near - Recitative. for Long Ago - Accompagnato. Thus Saith the Lord to Cyrus His Anointed
16. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 4: Chorus. Sing O Ye Heav'ns for the Lord Hath Done It
17. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 5: Aria. Let Festal Joy Triumphant Reign - Recitative. for You My Friends the Nobles of My Court
18. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 5: Aria. the Leafy Honours of the Field
19. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 5: Recitative. It Is the Custom I May Say the Law
20. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 5: Chorus of Jews. Recall O King Thy Rash Command
21. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 5: Recitative. They Tell You True; Nor Can You Be to Learn
22. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 5: Duet. O Dearer Than My Life Forbear
23. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act I Scene 5: Chorus of Jews. By Slow Degrees the Wrath of God to It's Meridian Height Ascends
24. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 1: Chorus. See from His Post Euphrates Flies! - Semichorus. Why Faithless River Dost Thou Leave - Semichorus. Euphrates Hath His Task Fulfil'd - Chorus of Things on Earth Proud Man Must Own
25. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 1: Recitative. You See My Friends a Path Into the City - Aria. Amaz'd to Find the Foe So Near - Chorus of Persians. to Arms to Arms No More Delay
26. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 2: Chorus. Ye Tutelar Gods of Our Empire Look Down
27. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 2: Aria. Let the Deep Bowl Thy Praise Confess
28. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 2: Accompagnato and Chorus. Where Is the God of Judah's Boasted Pow'r?
29. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 2: Recitative. Call All Our Wisemen Sorcerers Chaldeans - Symphony
30. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 2: Recitative. Ye Sages Welcome Always to Your King - Trio. Alas! Too Hard a Task the King Imposes - Chorus. O Misery! O Terror! Hopeless Grief!
31. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 2: Recitative. O King Live for Ever! - Recitative. Art Thou That Daniel of the Jewish Captives? - Aria. No to Thyself Thy Trifles Be
32. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 2: Accompagnato. Yet to Obey His Dread Command - Accompagnato. Thou O King Hast Lifted Up Thyself - Recitative. O Sentence Too Severe! and Yet Too Sure!
33. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 2: Aria. Regard O Son My Flowing Tears
34. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 3: Aria. O God of Truth! O Faithful Guide! - Recitative. You Gobrias Lead Directly to the Palace
35. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act II Scene 3: Chorus. O Glorious Prince! Thrice Happy They
36. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 1: Aria. Alternate Hopes and Fears Distract My Mind - Recitative. Fain Would I Hope. Is There Not Room to Hope?
37. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 1: Aria. Can the Black Æthiop Change His Skin? - Recitative. My Hopes Revive Here Arioch Comes By This
38. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 1: Chorus of Jews. Bel Boweth Down! Nebo Stoopeth!
39. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 2: Aria. I Thank Thee Sesach Thy Sweet Pow'r - a Martial Symphony
40. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 3: Aria. to Pow'r Immortal My First Thanks Are Due - Recitative. Be It Thy Care Good Gobrias to Find Out
41. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 3: Aria. Destructive War Thy Limits Know
42. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 3: Duet. Great Victor at Your Feet I Bow - Recitative. Say Venerable Prophet Is There Ought
43. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 3: Soli and Chorus. Tell It Out Among the Heathen That the Lord Is King
44. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 3: Accompagnato. Yes I Will Build Thy City God of Israel
45. Handel: Belshazzar HWV 61 Act III Scene 3: Anthem. I Will Magnify Thee O God My King!

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