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Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' ChorusOz 2016

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Presents

ChorusOz 2016: George F. Handel's 'Israel in Egypt'

12 June 2016, 5 P.M.  Sunday
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House 


At Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, once again, it's that time of the year in June when hundreds of passionate singers from interstate and all over the world join SPC choristers for the annual ChorusOz weekend of singing, fun and friendship, finishing with a performance on the world-famous Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with a professional orchestra and soloists.



Briefly, Handel's Oratorio 'ISRAEL IN EGYPT' 

George Frideric Handel's  Israel in Egypt (HWV 54) is a biblical oratorio. Most scholars believe the libretto was prepared by Charles Jennens, thesame text writer for Handel's most famous Messiah. It is composed entirely of selected passages from the Holy Bible's  Old Testament mainly from the books of Exodus and the Psalms.

Israel in Egypt premiered at London's King's Theatre in the Haymarket on April 4, 1739.  Handel started it soon after the opera season at King's Theatre was cancelled for lack of subscribers. The oratorio was not well received by the first audience though commended it was commended in the Daily Post, and the second performance was shortened, the mainly choral work now augmented with Italian-style arias.





SPC's ChorusOz 2016 offering: 

George F. HANDEL's Oratorio  'ISRAEL IN EGYPT'


Graham Abbott, conductor

Celeste Lazarenko, Penelope Mills, soprano
Sarah Court, mezzo soprano
Andrew Goodwin, tenor
Simon Lobelson, Christopher Richardson, bass

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (ChorusOz Choir)
Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra

(The performance time duration:  1 hour and 30 minutes with no interval)



Suggested Videos:

Handel Israel in Egypt (Complete). YouTube, uploaded by Best of Classical Music. Accessed November 30,  2016.

Handel - Israel in Egypt Oratorio at Pharaoh's Islands, JSO, John Currie (conductor). YouTube, uploaded by The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Handel - Israel in Egypt .  A special performance at Pharoah's Island on the shores of the Red Sea.  Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra John Currie, conductor.  Irene Drummond, Llyndall Trotman - sopranos.  Christine Cairns - contralto.  Stuart Patterson - tenor.  John Hearne, Stephen Roberts - bass.  Edinburgh Festival Chorus.  Scottish National Orchestra Chorus.  A production of The Israel Television ; Israel Broadcasting Authority.   Accessed 1 June 2018.





Video Credit: 

ChorusOz 2016 Rehearsal: Israel in Egypt. YouTube, uploaded by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed 1 June 2016.  



Resources:

1. Handel's Israel in Egypt. en.wikipedia.org. Accessed 1 June 2016.
2. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed 1 June 2016.
3.
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Concert Program Handout.



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