Holger Speck & Vocalensemble Rastatt - Handel: Israel in Egypt (2016)

10 Aug, 05:26
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Artist: Holger Speck & Vocalensemble Rastatt
Title: Georg Friedrich Händel: Israel in Egypt
Year Of Release: 2009 / 2016
Label: Carus
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (image + .cue, log, scans)
Total Time: 01:59:27
Total Size: 700 MB
WebSite: Album Preview

Tracklist:

CD 1
Part I:
1 Symphony 02:45
2 Chorus: The sons of Israel do mourn 09:23
3 Quartet: When the ear heard him 03:03
4 Chorus: How is the mighty fall’n 06:44
5 Soli and Chorus: The righteous shall be had 03:30
6 Chorus: Their bodies are buried in peace 04:28
7 Chorus: The people will tell of their wisdom 01:49
8 Quartet: They shall receive 03:26

Part II:
9 Chorus: The merciful goodness of the Lord 03:55
10 Recit. (Tenore): Now there arose a new king 00:24
11 Solo and Chorus: And the children of Israel 03:33
12 Recit. (Tenore): Then sent he Moses 00:39
13 Chorus: They loathed to drink of the river 02:25
14 Air (Alto): Their land brought forth frogs 02:19
15 Chorus: He spake the word 02:16
16 Chorus: He gave them hailstones for rain 02:16
17 Chorus: He sent a thick darkness 02:52
18 Chorus: He smote all the firstborn of Egypt 02:27
19 Chorus: But as for his people 04:04
20 Chorus: Egypt was glad when they departed 02:37
21 Chorus: He rebuked the Red Sea 02:41
22 Chorus: And Israel saw that great work 02:44

CD 2
Part III:
1 Chorus: Moses and the children of Israel 03:30
2 Duet (Soprano I e II): The Lord is my strength 03:34
3 Chorus: He is my God 03:04
4 Duet (Basso I e II): The Lord is a man of war 05:38
5 Chorus: The dephts have cover’d them 02:08
6 Chorus: Thy right hand, O Lord 03:34
7 Chorus: And with the blast of thy nostrils 02:53
8 Air (Tenore): The enemy said, I will pursue 02:17
9 Air (Soprano I): Thou didst blow with the wind 02:17
10 Chorus: Who is like unto thee, O Lord 01:58
11 Duet (Alto, Tenore): Thou in thy mercy hast led forth thy people 04:12
12 Chorus: The people shall hear 05:10
13 Air (Alto): Thou shalt bring them in 03:24
14 Chorus: The Lord shall reign for ever and ever 00:40
15 Recit. (Tenore): For the horse of Pharaoh 00:26
16 Chorus: The Lord shall reign for ever and ever 00:39
17 Recit. (Tenore): And Miriam the prophetess 00:24
18 Solo and Chorus: Sing ye to the Lord 03:19

The history of Israel in Egypt has been somewhat problematic. It was only the second of Handel's English oratorios, and the first in which the choral sections overshadow the solos, a concept that perplexed and displeased the original London audiences in 1739, who were used to their evenings in the theater dominated by virtuosic solos. When Handel revived the work in 1756, he trimmed it considerably, entirely omitting the first section. This recording, with Holger Speck leading Vocalensemble Rastatt and the instrumental ensemble Les Favorites, uses the original complete score, which gives it a clear edge over the many abbreviated performances available of what was once considered the standard performing version.

Speck's reading tends to be on the reserved side. The performance is precise and disciplined, straightforward but energetic when called for, although the fieriest choruses lack the passion to really stir the blood. Even so, there's much to be said for performances that can transcend the churchy starchiness that often clings to this repertoire. The singers and players are absolutely in tune and perform with attractive tone that is nicely varied from movement to movement, depending on the character of the music. The seven soloists are very fine without being exceptional, and they blend beautifully in the many small ensembles. This performance makes a solid and appealing introduction to the work for those who don't know it and for anyone who knows it only in its shortened form. The sound of the Carus SACD is clean and vivid; the bass is particularly strong, and the trombones and bassoons dramatically make their presence known. -- Stephen Eddins

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