Britain's What's On Event Guide
Newcastle Bach Choir Handel: Israel in Egypt
Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir
Imogen Creedy (soprano)
Annabel Kennedy (mezzo-soprano)
Austin Gunn (tenor)
Andri Björn Róbertsson & Patrick Owston (basses)
(Annabel Kennedy is kindly supported by Making Music’s Philip & Dorothy Green
Young Artists scheme)
Newcastle Baroque
Eric Cross (conductor)
Although we do not know who compiled the text from Exodus
and the Psalms, it is likely to have involved Charles Jennens, the librettist of Saul
who was later to collaborate with Handel over a similar biblical libretto for Messiah.
Handel started writing Israel in Egypt on 1 October 1738, beginning with the final act
which he called ‘Moses’ Song’, and by the beginning of November he had completed
the whole work. This was not perhaps such a phenomenal achievement as it sounds,
however, since, as with so many of his works, Handel borrowed and adapted much
material from other composers. He also used an arrangement of his own splendid
anthem The Ways of Zion do Mourn, written for the funeral of Queen Caroline in
December 1737, to provide a first act (though this was later dropped to create the
two-part work that we will be performing). Thus the work originally moved from the
sombre mood of the funeral anthem, through the vivid description of the plagues and
the Israelites’ flight through the Red Sea, to the paean of praise in the final part.
Israel in Egypt contains more choral writing – often involving a double chorus in eight
parts – than any of his other oratorios: a reason for it being second only to Messiah
in its popularity with modern audiences. The work is full of vivid pictorial writing,
particularly around the plagues of frogs, hailstones, flies and lice, and he uses
large orchestra including trumpets, trombones and timpani to create the joyful hymns
of praise.
Imogen Creedy (soprano)
Annabel Kennedy (mezzo-soprano)
Austin Gunn (tenor)
Andri Björn Róbertsson & Patrick Owston (basses)
(Annabel Kennedy is kindly supported by Making Music’s Philip & Dorothy Green
Young Artists scheme)
Newcastle Baroque
Eric Cross (conductor)
Although we do not know who compiled the text from Exodus
and the Psalms, it is likely to have involved Charles Jennens, the librettist of Saul
who was later to collaborate with Handel over a similar biblical libretto for Messiah.
Handel started writing Israel in Egypt on 1 October 1738, beginning with the final act
which he called ‘Moses’ Song’, and by the beginning of November he had completed
the whole work. This was not perhaps such a phenomenal achievement as it sounds,
however, since, as with so many of his works, Handel borrowed and adapted much
material from other composers. He also used an arrangement of his own splendid
anthem The Ways of Zion do Mourn, written for the funeral of Queen Caroline in
December 1737, to provide a first act (though this was later dropped to create the
two-part work that we will be performing). Thus the work originally moved from the
sombre mood of the funeral anthem, through the vivid description of the plagues and
the Israelites’ flight through the Red Sea, to the paean of praise in the final part.
Israel in Egypt contains more choral writing – often involving a double chorus in eight
parts – than any of his other oratorios: a reason for it being second only to Messiah
in its popularity with modern audiences. The work is full of vivid pictorial writing,
particularly around the plagues of frogs, hailstones, flies and lice, and he uses
large orchestra including trumpets, trombones and timpani to create the joyful hymns
of praise.
Saturday, November 25th 2023 7:30pm.
Standard £20
Students/Unwaged £10
Children free
Standard £20
Students/Unwaged £10
Children free
King’s Hall Armstrong Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE1 7RU
Sat 25 Nov 2023
Website:
newcastlebachchoir.org.uk