Greene: Jephtha

$32.99
Label
Chandos
Release Date
April 18, 2025
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Maurice Greene
    • PERFORMER
      Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      April 18, 2025
    • UPC
      0095115040829
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      CHSA 0408(2)
    • LABEL
      Chandos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. Ouverture

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    2. Part I Scene 1: Ye sons of Gilead, seek the Lord (Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    3. Part I Scene 1: Recitative: Jair, great judge of Israel, is no more (First and Second Elders)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Michael Mofidian, Jeremy Budd

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    4. Part I Scene 2: Accompanied Recitative: O mighty leader, see, beneath thy feet (First Elder)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Michael Mofidian

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    5. Part I Scene 2: Air: Where are your Gods, your idol-train (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    6. Part I Scene 2: Recitative: Shameful remembrance! (First Elder)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    7. Part I Scene 2: Duet: O think what joy to him is giv'n (Second and First Elders)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Michael Mofidian

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    8. Part I Scene 2: Recitative: Ill doth my native land such grace deserve (Jephtha, Second Elder)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples, Jeremy Budd

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    9. Part I Scene 2: Air: Against these new alarms (Second Elder)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Jeremy Budd

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    10. Part I Scene 2: Recitative: Hence, shameless men! Compassion would be guilt (Jephtha, Second Elder, Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples, Jeremy Budd

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    11. Part I Scene 2: Air: Pity soothing melts the soul (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    12. Part I Scene 2: Recitative: Cherish that pity, 'tis a godlike guest (First Elder)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Michael Mofidian

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    13. Part I Scene 2: Our orayers with God acceptance find (Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    14. Part I Scene 2: Recitative: Thought I your vow'd repentance were sincere (Jephtha, First Elder)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples, Michael Mofidian

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    15. Part I Scene 2: Thou, universal Lord (Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    16. Part I Scene 2: Recitative: No more, with joy I undertake your cause (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    17. Part I Scene 2: Air: God of hosts, whom we adore (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    18. Part I Scene 2: Accompanied Recitative: There, what first shall meet my eye (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    19. Part I Scene 2: God of hosts, whom we adore (Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    20. Part II Scene 1: Symphony

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    21. Part II Scene 1: The foes of Gilead are no more (Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    22. Part II Scene 1: Air: O God, we own Thy mighty hand (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    23. Part II Scene 1: Be all the fame (Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    24. Part II Scene 1: Air, Duet, Chorus: Awake, awake each joyful strain (Jephtha's Daughter, Soprano, Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Mary Bevan, Jessica Cale

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    25. Part II Scene 2: Accompanied Recitative: What do I see, O Heav'n? (Jephtha, Jephtha's Daughter)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples, Mary Bevan

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    26. Part II Scene 2: Air: Ah! My foreboding fears (Jephtha's Daughter)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Mary Bevan

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    27. Part II Scene 2: Recitative: O Heav'n! With pity view a father's fondness (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    28. Part II Scene 2: Air: Thou sweetest joy by Heav'n bestow'd (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    29. Part II Scene 2: Recitative: O speak, disclose my doom, I stand prepar'd (Jephtha's Daughter, Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Mary Bevan, Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    30. Part II Scene 2: Air: If I thy grief (Jephtha's Daughter)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Mary Bevan

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    31. Part II Scene 2: Recitative: O blot me from thy mind (Jephtha's Daughter, Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Mary Bevan, Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    32. Part II Scene 2: Air: O Thou most dear (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    33. Part II Scene 2: Accompanied Recitative: I vow'd, before I fought the war (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    34. Part II Scene 2: O God of Might! What means this stroke? (Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    35. Part II Scene 2: Air: But oh! behold the princely pair (First Elder)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Michael Mofidian

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    36. Part II Scene 2: But see! The dreadful conflict's o'er (Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    37. Part II Scene 2: Accompanied recitative: Can Heav'n delight in guiltless blood? (Jephtha, Jephtha's Daughter, Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples, Mary Bevan

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    38. Part II Scene 2: Air: Let me awhile defer my fate (Jephtha's Daughter)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Mary Bevan

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    39. Part II Scene 2: Accompanied Recitative: Go, and with humble tears, and ceaseless prayers (Jephtha)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    40. Part II Scene 2: Duet: Here let me hold Thee to my heart (Jephtha, Jephtha's Daughter. Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Performer: Andrew Staples, Mary Bevan

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn

    41. Part II Scene 2: Israel's daughters, a fair virgin train (Chorus)

      Composer: Maurice Greene

      Ensemble: Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra

      Conductor: Christian Curnyn


The passage of time has perhaps been unkind to the English composer Maurice Greene. By 1730 he was one of the most senior musicians in England: Organist at St Paul's Cathedral, Organist and Composer to the Chapel Royal, and Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge. When he was appointed Master of the King's Music, in 1735, he held every significant appointment in the Kingdom. Of course, the overwhelming presence of Handel in London at the time most certainly played a significant part in Greene's relative obscurity. His second attempt at oratorio, Jephtha, in 1737, marks the first successful foray by an Englishman in this genre. Brimming with attractively varied airs and choruses, powerfully emotive accompanied recitatives, and spirited orchestral movements, it is an engaging work. Taken from the Book of Judges, chapter 11, the account of Jephtha tells the story of a fearless Israelite warrior recalled from exile to fight for his people, a man not only of great valour but, as it transpires - thanks to an impulsive and fateful pledge - of profound honour, too, destined to assume his place as their worthy ruler. Christian Curnyn directs his Early Opera Company forces with a dazzling cast of soloists: Andrew Staples takes the part of Jephtha, joined by Mary Bevan, Michael Mofidian, and Jeremy Budd.