Israel in Egypt, the fifth of the nineteen oratorios which George Frideric Handel composed in England, was written in 1738, the composition of the whole colossal work occupying but twenty-seven days. First performed in 1739, at the King's Theatre, of which Handel was then manager, Israel in Egypt is a biblical oratorio that deals with the fate of the Israelites enslaved in Egypt and their deliversance under the leadership of Moses.
Unprecedented at the time, it is composed entirely of selected biblical passages - mainly from Exodus and the Psalms. In two parts, twenty eight of its numbers are choruses with only five arias and three duets in the entire piece.
This performance of the two-part Oratorio at the Usher Hall, with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Edinburgh Chorus, was conducted by the flamboyant French conductress Emmanuelle Haim. A specialist in Baroque music she elicited a passionate performance from the exemplary Edinburgh Festival chorus [of which Christopher Bell is the Chorus Master] and the soloists.
The soprano duet in the second part - "The Lord is my strength and my song. He is become my salvation" - was sung beautifully by Lucy Crowe and Claire Debono. The countertenor voice of Robin Blaze was magnificent, as clear as a bell and those of the tenor Mark Tucker, and basses Matthew Brook and Henry Waddington resounded splendidly throughout the hall. At the end of the performance the audience responded with a well-deserved swell of applause.
Aug 13, 2008