Gentle Morpheus, son of night from Alceste, HWV 45
by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Incidental music to a lost play by Tobias Smollett (1721–1771)
Music texts probably by Thomas Morell (1703–1784)
It was rehearsed at Convent Garden Theatre, but never performed.
Lucy Crowe, soprano
Early Opera Company
Christian Curnyn, conductor
Gentle Morpheus, son of night,
Hither speed thy airy flight!
And his weary senses steep
In the balmy dew of sleep.
That when bright Aurora’s beams
Glad the world with golden streams,
He, like Phoebus, blithe and gay,
May re-taste the healthful day.
CD available from Chandos:
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%200788
Art in the video:
[0:48] René-Antoine Houasse (1645–1710)
[1:50] Pierre-Narcisse Guérin (1774-1833)
[2:46] Giulio Carpioni (1613-1678)
[3:20] Battista Dossi (1490–1548)
[3:42] Guercino (1591-1666)
[4:50] Jean-Bernard Restout (1732-1797)
[5:27] Luca Giordano (1634-1705)
[6:15] Evelyn De Morgan (1855-1919)
[6:45] Auguste Alexandre Hirsch (1833–1912)
[7:08] Nicolas-Guy Brenet (1728-1792)
[7:44] Simeon Solomon (1840–1905)