isinegypt

Issue #44

Last Update March 2, 2006

Arts Israel in Egypt by David Katz Earlier this month, the Masterwork Orchestra and Chorus performed Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt. Like all of Handel's oratorios, the writing for orchestra and chorus alike is superb, and the orchestra, chorus and soloists gave superb performances.

The oratorio is divided into two sections: Part I, which is largely a recitation of the ten plagues; and Part II, which consists of songs of praise to the Lord for the liberation from Egypt. Unlike Handel's other oratorios, there are relatively few solo arias in this work. The orchestra and the chorus bear the main burden of the piece, with the chorus acting as narrator and the nation of Israel.

The writing for Part I is vivid; each plague is painted musically in a style appropriate to the plague itself; Handel anticipated tone poems by a century at least. Flies buzz in the music, fire and hail resound, and the darkness that fell upon the land has no tonal center, appropriate to the chaos being described. Part II is less flashy, musically, but satisfying as a series of hymns and anthems.

The star of the oratorio is the chorus. The Masterwork Chorus, begun in New York in 1955, is approaching the half-century mark with no diminution of quality. Ably conducted by Andrew Megill, the precision of the chorus marks it as one of the few truly professional volunteer choruses in the nation. Mr. Megill, in addition to his duties as Music Director of the Masterwork Chorus, is Chorusmaster for the Spoleto Festival USA and is conductor or associate conductor of several other choral groups.

The soloists, Heather Fetrow and Cassandra LaMotte, sopranos, Margaret Bragle, mezzo-soprano, Nathan Davis, lyric tenor, Timothy Wild, baritone, and Douglas Millar, bass-baritone, maintained the high standards set by the orchestra and chorus.The sopranos were especially fine, both in their solos and in their duets.

The Masterwork Chorus will be presenting as series of summer sings, Wednesday evenings at 7:30 beginning June 30, in which the audience is encouraged to join the singers. June 30 – July 21 these will be held at Xavier Center, St. Elizabeth's College, College Station New Jersey. On July 28, this will be held at Saint John's Lutheran Church in Summit New Jersey. The Masterwork Chorus' 2004-2005 season will include Zoltan Kodaly's Missa Brevis, the traditional Carnegie Hall performance of Handel's Messiah, and Bach's Mass in B Minor. Except for the Carnegie Hall performance, all Masterwork Chorus performances are held in various New Jersey Locations. See their web site, www.masterwork.org , for details.