Handel – The Sixteen Choir &: Orchestra, Harry Christophers – Esther

1-1 – Ouverture – Andante – Larghetto – Allegro

– Scene One

1-2 – Recitative ‘Tis Greater Far To Spare’

1-3 – Aria ‘Pluck Root And Branch From Out The Land’

1-4 – Recitative ‘Our Souls With Ardour Glow’

1-5 – Chorus: ‘Shall We The God Of Israel Fear?’

– Scene Two

1-6 – Recitative ‘Now Persecution Shall Lay By Her Iron Rod’

1-7 – Aria ‘Tune Your Harps To Cheerful Strains’

1-8 – Chorus: ‘Shall We Of Servitude Complain’

1-9 – Aria ‘Praise The Lord With Cheerful Noise’

1-10 – Recitative. ‘O God, Who From The Suckling’s Mouth’

1-11 – Aria ‘Sing Songs Of Praise, Bow Down The Knee’

1-12 – Chorus:’Shall We Of Servitude Complain’

– Scene Three

1-13 – Recitative. ‘How Have Our Sins Provoked The Lord!’

1-14 – Chorus: ‘Ye Sons Of Israel Mourn’

1-15 – Aria ‘Jordan, Jordan, Sacred Tide’

1-16 – Chorus: ‘Ye Sons Of Israel Mourn’

– Oboe Sonata In G Minor (HWV 404)

– Scene Four

2-1 – Recitative ‘Why Sits That Sorrow On Thy Brow?’

2-2 – Aria ‘Dread Not, Righteous Queen, The Danger’

2-3 – Recitative ‘I Go Before The King To Stand’

2-4 – Aria ‘Tears Assist Me, Pity Moving’

2-5 – Chorus: ‘Save Us, O Lord’

– Scene Five

2-6 – Recitative. ‘Who Dares Intrude Into Our Presence’

2-7 – Duet ‘Who Calls My Parting Soul From Death?’

2-8 – Aria ‘O Beauteous Queen, Unclose Thy Eyes’

2-9 – Recitative. ‘If I Find Favour In Thy Sight’

2-10 – Aria ‘How Can I Stay When Love Invites?’

2-11 – Recitative. ‘With Inward Joy His Visage Grows’

2-12 – Chorus: ‘Virtue, Truth And Innocence’

2-13 – Arioso ‘Jehovah, Crown’d With Glory Bright’

2-14 – Chorus: ‘He Comes, He Comes To End Our Woes’

– Scene Six

2-15 – Recitative. ‘Now, O Queen, Thy Suit Declare’

2-16 – Arioso ‘Turn Not, O Queen, Thy Face Away’

2-17 – Aria ‘Flatt’ring Tongue, No More I Hear Thee!’

2-18 – Recitative. ‘Guards, Seize The Traitor, Bear Him Hence’

2-19 – Aria ‘How Art Thou Fall’n From Thy Height!’

2-20 – Chorus: ‘The Lord Our Enemy Has Slain’