Oratorio by George Frideric Handel (1739, HWV 54)

Haapsalu Festival Choir and soloists
Haapsalu Festival Baroque Orchestra
Choirmaster Lodewijk van der Ree (Netherlands/Estonia)
Conductor Stephen Layton (UK)

“Israel in Egypt” is one of Handel’s most beloved biblical oratorios, which has subsequently been interpreted in sublime, crowd-uniting and patriotic manner. The oratorio is a marvellous celebration of choir, a cinematically true-life-like portrayal of Israelits held in captivity, the plagues of Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the destruction of Pharaoh’s forces and the arrival in the Promised Land.

Stephen Layton is one of the most sought-after conductors of his generation, whose ground-breaking approach has had a profound influence on choral music over the last 30 years.