Handel, G F - Israel in Egypt - Dijkstra, Peter (conductor)
"The evening with the battle cry: 'Händel is back!' turned out to be a real thrill. This was largely accountable to the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, which has a total mastery of every facet of the work from the soft lamentation of the dead, the gloomy dark muttering, the darkening of the earth, the walk through the Red Sea including the drowning of the Egyptian pursuers and the jubilation, complete with drums and trombones." (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
Georg Friedrich Händel's great choral oratorio, "Israel in Egypt" is the most valuable gift the composer ever gave to choral music. The chorus functions as protagonist in this powerful work, which tells the Old Testament story of Exodus with telling dramatic intensity. Two multiple prize-winning, major ensemble, Concerto Köln, the well-known period instrument ensemble and the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, joined forces for the first time in November of 2008. The strong individual characteristics of the vocal soloists combine impressively with the chorus and orchestra for a multi-layered interpretation that is concurrently borne by a clear, common musical objective. This recording features the original three-part version from 1739.