L'Allegro Ed Il Penseroso

L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato was originally composed by George Frideric Handel in 1740, based on the poems by John Milton. This specific 1968 release by The Record Society reflects the mid-century revival of interest in period-appropriate performance practices. The recording features an ensemble of distinguished British soloists and the Philomusica of London, an orchestra noted for its efforts in bringing a more historically informed approach to Baroque repertoire under the direction of David Willcocks.

The Record Society, a subsidiary of the World Record Club, was instrumental in making niche classical and baroque recordings accessible to a broader audience during the 1960s. By employing high-caliber performers such as Peter Pears and Elizabeth Harwood, the label aimed to provide sophisticated, scholarly interpretations of Handel’s work. The production was well-received by critics of the time for its clarity and the stylistic fidelity maintained by the ensemble, serving as a notable documentation of the Baroque choral tradition in the post-war British music scene.