韓德爾：神劇「參孫」 (DAW 古樂系列)

★ 此劇在韓德爾神劇作品中有其獨特的地位，不像其他神劇採用改編自聖經的劇本，而是直接採用彌爾頓的詩作為劇本，因此在歌詞上也非常的講究而有文學之美。
★ 此錄音是從哈農庫特一系列的現場演出中錄下的，他非常注意讓全劇的演出摒棄了英國式神劇的宗教意味，而加入了強烈的歌劇效果！

大力士參孫因為迷戀大麗拉，被設計割去他力氣來源的長髮，因此淪為奴隸的故事，此為舊約聖經中最常被引述的故事。至於韓德爾的參孫故事，則是從「失樂園」一書作者彌爾頓的劇本寫成的歌劇，此劇完成於一七四一年，離韓德爾上一齣傑作「彌賽亞」完成才只有兩週的時間，可見韓德爾當時是多麼受到英國人的歡迎。此劇前後只花了一個月的時間就完成，但一直等到一七四三年二月十八日才首演，之所以遲了一年多，是因為中間韓德爾為了自己的彌賽亞神劇大受歡迎，而在英倫三島展開巡迴演出，因此沒時間推出此新劇的演出。此劇在韓德爾神劇作品中有其獨特的地位，因為此劇不像其他神劇採用改編自聖經的劇本，而是直接採用彌爾頓的詩作為劇本，因此在歌詞上也非常的講究而有文學之美。至於韓德爾為此劇所譜的音樂，也充滿了創意和效果：像是第二幕最後描寫參孫在大麗拉和哈拉法之間的衝突時，韓德爾就將樂團分成兩組，各演奏一道旋律來對抗；而在第三幕更是以一段「恐懼與疑惑的交響樂」來描寫劇中人物的心情，這是巴洛克描寫音樂之極致，充滿了效果。本片是哈農庫特在一九九二年灌錄的，也是他古樂韓德爾系列中最晚期的錄音作品之一。這份錄音是從他一系列的現場演出中錄下的，哈農庫特非常注意讓全劇的演出摒棄了英國式神劇的宗教意味，而加入了強烈的歌劇效果，因此韓德爾在劇中利用音樂所要表達的情緒和衝突，都透過他那些充滿想像力的手法呈現出來！

曲目
CD 1:
1. Symphony
2. Menuet
3. Act 1 Scene 1 : 'Awake the trumpet's lofty sound'
4. Act 1 Scene 1 : 'Ye men of Gaza, hither bring'
5. Act 1 Scene 1 : 'Awake the trumpet's lofty sound!'
6. Act 1 Scene 1 : 'Torments, alas! are not confined'
7. Act 1 Scene 2 : 'O mirror of our fickle state'
8. Act 1 Scene 2 : 'Total eclipse! no sun, no moon, all dark'
9. Act 1 Scene 2 : 'Since light so necessary is to life'
10. Act 1 Scene 2 : 'O first created beam!'
11. Act 1 Scene 3 : 'Oh miserbale change! is this the man'
12. Act 1 Scene 3 : 'The good we wish for, often proves our banes'
13. Act 1 Scene 3 : 'Thy glorious deeds inspir'd my tongue'
14. Act 1 Scene 3 : 'My genial spirits droop, my hopes are flat'
15. Act 1 Scene 3 : 'Then long Eternity shall greet your bliss'
16. Act 1 Scene 3 : 'Then round about the starry throne'
17. Act 2 Scene 1 : 'Trust yet in God! Thy father's timely care'
18. Act 2 Scene 1 : 'Return, oh God of hosts!'
19. Act 2 Scene 1 : 'To dust his glory they would tread'
20. Act 2 Scene 2 : 'With plaintive notes and am'rous moan'
21. Act 2 Scene 2 : 'Your charms to ruin led the way'
22. Act 2 Scene 2 : 'My faith and truth, oh Samson, prove'
23. Act 2 Scene 2 : 'Her faith and truth, oh Samson, prove'
24. Act 2 Scene 2 : 'To fleeting pleasures make your court'
25. Act 2 Scene 2 : 'Her faith and truth, oh Samson, prove'

CD 2:
1. Act 2 Scene 2 : 'N'er think of that!'
2. Act 2 Scene 2 : 'Traitor to love! I'll sue no more'
3. Act 2 Scene 3 : 'To man God's universal Law'
4. Act 2 Scene 4 : 'Honour and arms scorn such a foe'
5. Act 2 Scene 4 : 'Go, baffled coward go' / 'Presume not on thy god'
6. Act 2 Scene 4 : 'Hear, Jacob's God, Jehovah, hear'
7. Act 2 Scene 4 : 'To song and dance we give the day'
8. Act 2 Scene 4 : 'To song and dance we give the day'
9. Act 2 Scene 4 : 'Fix'd in his everlasting seat'
10. Act 3 Scene 1 : 'More trouble is behind : for Harapha'
11. Act 3 Scene 1 : 'Presuming slave, to move their wrath'
12. Act 3 Scene 1 : 'With thunder arm'd, great God, arise'
13. Act 3 Scene 1 : 'Jehova's Glory known!'
14. Act 3 Scene 1 : 'Thus when the sun from's wat'ry bed'
15. Act 3 Scene 1 : 'With might endued above the sons of men'
16. Act 3 Scene 1 : 'The Holy One of Israel be thy guide'
17. Act 3 Scene 1 : 'To fame immortal go'
18. Act 3 Scene 2 : 'Great Dagon has subduedour foe'
19. Act 3 Scene 2 : 'Great Dagon has subduedour foe'
20. Act 3 Scene 2 : 'How willing my paternal love'
21. Act 3 Scene 2 : A Symphony of horror and confusion
22. Act 3 Scene 2 : 'Hear us, our God, oh hear our cry!'
23. Act 3 Scene 2 : 'Ye sons of Israel, now lament'
24. Act 3 Scene 2 : 'Weep, Israel, weep a louder strain'
25. Act 3 Scene 2 : A Dead March
26. Act 3 Scene 2 : 'Glorious hero, may thy grave'
27. Act 3 Scene 2 : 'Let the bright Seraphim in burning row'
28. Act 3 Scene 2 : 'Let their celestial concerts all unite'