Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Maurice Greene Jephtha (2025) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

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.

TRACKLIST

1. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha: No. 1, Ouverture
2. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 1: No. 2, Chorus. Ye Sons of Gilead, seek the Lord
3. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 1; No. 3, Recit. Jair, great Judge of Israel, is no more
4. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 4, Recit. O mighty Leader, see, beneath thy Feet
5. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 5, Air. Where are your Gods, your Idol-Train
6. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 6, Recit. Shameful Remembrance! with repentant Tears
7. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 7, Duet. O think what Joy to him is giv’n’
8. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 8, Recit. Ill doth my native Land such Grace deserve
9. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 9, Air. Against these new Alarms
10. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 10, Recit. Hence, shameless Men! Compassion would be Guilt
11. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 11, Air. Pity soothing melts the Soul
12. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 12, Recit. Cherish that Pity, ’tis a Godlike Guest
13. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 13, Chorus. Our Prayers with God Acceptance find
14. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 14, Recit. Thought I your vow’d Repentance were sincere
15. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2:No. 15, Chorus. Thou, universal Lord
16. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 16, Recit. No more, with Joy I undertake your Cause
17. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 17, Air. God of Hosts, whom we adore
18. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 18, Recit. There, what first shall meet my Eye
19. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 1, Scene 2: No. 19, Chorus. God of Hosts, whom we adore
20. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 1: No. 20, Symphony
21. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 1: No. 21, Chorus. The Foes of Gilead are no more
22. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 1: No. 22, Air. O God, we own Thy mighty Hand
23. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 1: No. 23, Chorus. Be all the Fame
24. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 1: No. 24, Air, Duet & Chorus. Awake, awake each joyful Strain
25. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 25, Recit. What do I see, O Heav’n?
26. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 26, Air. Ah! my foreboding Fears
27. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 27, Recit. O Heav’n! with Pity view a Father’s Fondness
28. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 28, Air. Thou sweetest Joy by Heav’n bestow’d
29. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 29, Recit. O speak, disclose my Doom, I stand prepar’d
30. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 30, Air. If I thy Grief
31. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 31, Recit. O blot me from thy Mind
32. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 32, Air. O Thou most Dear
33. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 33, Recit. I vow’d, before I fought the War
34. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 34, Chorus. O God of Might! what Means this Stroke?
35. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 35, Air. But oh! behold the princely Pair
36. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 36, Chorus. But see! the dreadful Conflict’s o’er
37. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 37, Recit. Can Heav’n delight in Guiltless Blood?
38. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 38, Air. Let me awhile defer my Fate
39. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 39, Recit. Go, and with humble Tears, and ceaseless Prayers
40. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 40, Duet and Chorus. Here let me hold Thee to my Heart
41. Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn - Greene: Jephtha Part 2, Scene 2: No. 41, Chorus. Israel’s Daughters, a fair Virgin Train



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