Orchester der Deutschen Händel-Solisten, Chamber Choir of Europe, Anthony Bramall - Handel: Israel in Egypt (2006)

Great chorus, weak soloists: thank heaven Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt, like his oratorio Messiah, is more a work for chorus with orchestra and vocal soloists than, like most of his other oratorios, a work for vocal soloists with orchestra and chorus. From a choral point of view, this 2006 recording by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe is indeed superlative. The international chorus sings with surprising unanimity, amazing cohesion, and impressive diction. The "How is the might fall'n" in Part 1, the "And Israel saw that great work" in Part 2, and especially the climactic "Sing ye to the Lord" in Part 3 are as strong and supple as either of the two finest earlier recordings (John Eliot Gardiner's 1978 or 1993 recordings both with the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra). Unfortunately, while the conducting of Anthony Bramall and the playing of the Orchester der Deutschen Händel-Solisten are both fully equal to the chorus, the soloists here range from the slightly better than acceptable to the nearly unendurable, and though Israel in Egypt is predominantly a work for chorus with orchestra and vocal soloists, the uneven contribution really drags down the overall quality of the performance. Brilliant's sound is crisp, clear, and deep.