The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: The Sons Of Israel Do Mourn
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: He Put On Righteousness
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: When The Ear Heard Him Soprano
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: How Is The Mighty Fall'n
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: He Deliver'd The Poor
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: How Is The Mighty Fall'n
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: The Righteous Shall Be Had
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: Their Bodies Are Buried In Peace
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: The People Will Tell Of Their Wisdom
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: They Shall Recieve A Glorious Kingdom
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: The Merciful Goodness Of The Lord
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: Now There Arose A New King Over Egypt
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: And The Children Of Israel Sighed
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: Then Sent He Moses
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: They Loathed To Drink Of The River
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: Their Land Brought Forth Frogs
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: He Spake The Word
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: He Gave Them Hailstones For Rain
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: He Sent A Thick Darkness
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: He Smote All The First-Born Of Egypt
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: But As For His People
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: Egypt Was Glad
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: He Rebuked The Red Sea
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: He Led Them Through The Deep
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: But The Waters Overwhelmed Their Enemies
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: And Israel Saw That Great Work
The Ways Of Zion Do Mourn: And Believed The Lord
Track Listings (20) - Disc #2
Part III: Moses' Song: Moses And The Children Of Israel
Part III: Moses' Song: I Will Sing Unto The Lord
Part III: Moses' Song: The Lord Is My Strength
Part III: Moses' Song: He Is My God And I Will Exalt Him
Part III: Moses' Song: The Lord Is A Man Of War
Part III: Moses' Song: The Depths Have Covered Them
Part III: Moses' Song: Thy Right Hand O Lord, And In The Greatness
Part III: Moses' Song: Thou Sentest Forth Thy Wrath
Part III: Moses' Song: And With The Blast Of Thy Nostrils
Part III: Moses' Song: The Enemy Said
Part III: Moses' Song: Thou Didst Blow With The Wind
Part III: Moses' Song: Who Is Like Unto Thee, O Lord, The Earth Swallowed Them
Part III: Moses' Song: Thou In Thy Mercy
Part III: Moses' Song: The People Shall Hear
Part III: Moses' Song: Thou Shalt Bring Them In
Part III: Moses' Song: The Lord Shall Reign For Ever And Ever
Part III: Moses' Song: For The Horse Of Pharoah
Part III: Moses' Song: The Lord Shall Reign For Ever And Ever
Part III: Moses' Song: And Miriam The Prophetess
Part III: Moses' Song: Sing Ye To The Lord
Israel in Egypt is by far the most choral of all of Handel's oratorios. Indeed, Part II (which describes the plagues of Egypt with extraordinary vividness) is all chorus, apart from one short alto aria. For the most par... more »t, the King's College Choir, Cambridge, does a splendid job here. There's something unutterably beguiling about the freshness of children's voices in this context, especially when they are warmed with the delicate touch of vibrato which the "King's sound" requires. If the young singers do not have the sophistication of the adult female voices of, say, the Monteverdi Choir, they certainly have an unmistakable bloom. Cleobury keeps things very clear in the contrapuntal and fugal sections, but is less inspired in the passages that need more drama and orchestral color: the plagues of flies, lice, and locusts are woefully restrained, for example. The soloists, however, do their best to inject some theatricality during their arias. Ian Bostridge is in particularly fine form, and Susan Gritton sounds gorgeous. An attractive interpretation. --Warwick Thompson« less
Israel in Egypt is by far the most choral of all of Handel's oratorios. Indeed, Part II (which describes the plagues of Egypt with extraordinary vividness) is all chorus, apart from one short alto aria. For the most part, the King's College Choir, Cambridge, does a splendid job here. There's something unutterably beguiling about the freshness of children's voices in this context, especially when they are warmed with the delicate touch of vibrato which the "King's sound" requires. If the young singers do not have the sophistication of the adult female voices of, say, the Monteverdi Choir, they certainly have an unmistakable bloom. Cleobury keeps things very clear in the contrapuntal and fugal sections, but is less inspired in the passages that need more drama and orchestral color: the plagues of flies, lice, and locusts are woefully restrained, for example. The soloists, however, do their best to inject some theatricality during their arias. Ian Bostridge is in particularly fine form, and Susan Gritton sounds gorgeous. An attractive interpretation. --Warwick Thompson
CD Reviews
Dramatic Excursion
Zvi Goren | Tel Aviv, Israel | 06/24/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This great oratorio by Handel has many good recorded versions, but none is as dramatic and revealing as this new release. It was recorded in 1995, but it has the required freshness and immediacy, a kind of prophetic recording. Each instrument of the orchestra is vivid, as well as the various sections of the choir. It is conducted with full awareness of the meaning of that historical excursion from slavery in the flourishing kingdon of Egypt into the freedom of the Israelites on their way to become a nation in the Promised Land. The glory of this recording is mainly in the voices of Michael Chance, a counter tenor of the highest degree, and that unique singing voice of Ian Bostridge, a tenor who performs his music in the vein of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau with a rare intelligent reading of both music and text."
The search is over.....
William | Brisbane, Queensland Australia | 02/22/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For a number of years I have searched for an interpretation of this magnificent work of art. And I must say now that my search has now been concluded.I have always held in high esteem the marvellous renditions of the King's College Choir, and this heavenly music is no exception. They have done it yet again, combining powerful vocal skills, with beautifully played orchestral parts, achieving a choral spectacle, in this most 'choral' of Handel's oratorios. I constantly use the word 'grand', 'stately' and all it's variants and forms to describe Handel, and so it is with this recording, for it does wonderful justice to these all so characteristically 'Handelian' attributes."
A Magnificent Performance of One of Handel's Finest Oratorio
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"ISRAEL IN EGYPT is an important step in Handel's career, a time when he took a breath from his Italian Operas and turned to the English libretti of his mighty oratorios. ISRAEL IN EGYPT is one of the more dramatic of his choral works, somehow capturing the drama of opera through the exciting role the chorus plays. Stephen Cleobury conducts what is certainly one of the most exciting and beautiful performances on record and he does so in the quintessential style of the Baroque era.
The soloists are all superb interpreters of the style and music of Handel and while tenor Ian Bostridge, countertenor Michael Chance and soprano Susan Gritton contribute the strongest roles, the work of Libby Crabtree, Angela East, Stephen Varcoe, and Henry Herford are also consistently excellent. The 'major role' in this opus is divided between the chorus and the orchestra and here is where the recording is the most radiant of any. The King's College Choir and the Brandenburg Consort are as fine as ensembles come for this music and Cleobury knows how to coax the beauty of line and energy of text from the entire ensemble.
For those unfamiliar with Handel's oratorios this recording is a fine start. And for those lovers of baroque music (and Handel in particular), this is a superlative example of how Handel's oratorios should be sung and played. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, August 05"
A voice teacher and early music
George Peabody | Planet Earth | 03/20/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"COMPETENT CLEOBURY and the FABULOUS FOUR soloists together with the King's College Choir accompanied by the Brandenburg Consort have produced an inspirational and expert rendition of this marvelous work by Handel. It could be said that 'Israel in Egypt, composed in 1739,marked a turning point in Handel's composing life. This was due to the decline of interest in Italian opera. And so began his Oratorios.
'Israel in Egypt',the fifth of the nineteen oratorios which Handel composed in English, was written in only twenty-seven days. It is truly a colossal work and was first performed on April 4, 1739, at the King's Theatre, of which Handel was then the manager. It is essentially a choral oratorio, comprising no less than twenty-eight massive double choruses.
Like much of Handel's music 'Israel in Egypt' made use of much borrowing from his other compositions: the opening part. 'The Lamentations of the Israelites for the Death of Joseph', is an adaptation of 'The Ways of Zion Do Mourn', written in 1737, for the funeral of Queen Caroline, the consort of George II.
In this recording you hear the work in its original three-part format. The King's College Choir with its clear voiced soaring boy sopranos and its velvet-toned male altos lend a lushness to the overall tone quality. The playing of the Brandenburg Consort is skilled both as to phrasing and articulation, creating a natural and keen sense of structure and ensemble which drives it all forward.
The Fabulous Four soloists are outstanding: Stephen Varcoe (bass) effortlessly gives the text meaning and direction; Michael Chance (countertenor) performs using his uniquely lovely sound with character and drive; Ian Bostridge (tenor) renders his solos with great beauty and flawless diction; Susan Gritton (soprano) with her excellent sense of balance, heightened by a feeling of drama, is worthy of Handel's operatic tradition.
Competent Cleobury is in full command of both voices and orchestra, and thus has rendered an inspirational, not to be missed by Handelians, performance. (recorded in 1995) The accompanying booklet is very informative and includes the complete text."
Passionate Reconstruction of First Version on Period Instr's
rodboomboom | Dearborn, Michigan United States | 10/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is magnificent reconstruction of Handel's first composition on this oratorio, with Lamentations of the Israelites for the Death of Joseph included. Israel in Egypt is known to be the departure point for Handel from Italian opera to English oratoiro.
Here in wonderful fashion on period instruments with solid soloists and great baroque orchestra, this all comes together in a solid performance. Harpsichord and organ accompaniment are awesome, and strings do substantial job as well.
Track Listings (28) - Disc #1