Ruth Provost soprano
Judy Brown mezzosoprano
Carris Jones mezzosoprano
Joseph Doody tenor
William Balkwill tenor
Greg Skidmore baritone
William Townend bass
Festival Baroque Sinfonia
Southwell Festival Voices
Marcus Farnsworth conductor
Libby Burgess chorus director & continuo organ
If you enjoy Messiah you’ll love Handel’s oratorio Israel in Egypt. As with Messiah Handel sets a biblical text – the dramatic story of the Israelites’ departure from Egypt in the Book of Exodus; also like Messiah, Handel’s choir – a spectacular double chorus, is a leading character in the drama. Add orchestral writing that fizzes with originality and solo numbers of plangent beauty and this masterpiece will have you on the edge of your seat. And when the Israelites finally cross the Red Sea with the pursuing Egyptians drowning behind them there’s a choral celebration to rival the Hallelujah Chorus. As Marcus Farnsworth says: “Handel does joy like no one else; he makes you glad to be alive. If Bach does joy with dancing, Handel does it with fireworks.” Following the brilliant performance of Bach’s Mass in B minor last year, this performance by the Festival Baroque Sinfonia on authentic instruments in partnership with the superb Festival Voices promises to be another revelation.
