Collegium Vocale - Freiburger Barockorchester - Marcus Creed

What better choral concert could one imagine to mark the launch of a long-term project on Handel's oratorios by Collegium Vocale and deSingel? Like the 'Messiah', 'Israel in Egypt' occupies an exceptional position among Handel's oratorios. It has no dramatic characters or skilfully assembled libretto, only anonymous soloists and lines from the Bible. And what is more, in this oratorio the chorus draws all the attention. The story of the Israelites' exile in Egypt inspired Handel to write a series of impressive choruses which at one moment depict the suffering of the Israelites and then very expressively illustrate the seven plagues Jehovah let loose on Egypt. Frogs, hailstones, darkness: Handel has no problem in making all the plagues exceedingly true to life. The last part illustrates another side of Handel: as a composer of triumphant music who is never simplistic or tasteless but always retains complete dignity. Yet 'Israel in Egypt' was not a success in Handel's lifetime: after the first performance in April 1739 it was soon forgotten and was not even performed ten times before Handel's death in 1759. However, after his death it rapidly became his second most popular work, only outdone by the 'Messiah' in number of performances.