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Handel: Israel in Egypt

Stephen Johnson explores Handel's choral work Israel in Egypt. It was the result of a change of musical direction, as an unsuccessful opera season in 1738 led him to the oratorio.

During the 1730s Handel was making his living in London as a composer of Italian opera, but when plans for the 1738-39 season collapsed due to lack of subscribers, he turned instead to oratorio. Stephen Johnson explores one of the fruits of this change of direction - Handel's monumental choral work, Israel in Egypt.

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20 minutes

Last on

Mon 21 May 201220:20
BBC Radio 3

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Credit

ComposerGeorge Frideric Handel

Broadcast

  • Mon 21 May 201220:20
    BBC Radio 3

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