On Saturday, October 21, Apollo’s Fire, Cleveland’s Baroque Orchestra, gave us Handel’s dramatic oratorio, Israel in Egypt, at CIM’s Kulas Hall. Handel’s oratorio was particularly relevant given the recent events in the Middle East. Before the concert Jeannette Sorrell shared a few words. Her remarks were empathetic and appropriate.
The performance, as always for this ensemble, was clear, cleanly voiced and powerful. The power, however, unlike when large ensembles perform this work, was focused and perfectly appropriate for a Baroque work. The sound in larger ensembles is inevitably less focused and can turn bombastic; Apollo’s Fire, even at its most powerful, sounds intense and thrilling.
Sorrell shortened the three-hour work to less than two hours, but her cuts were thoughtfully made and took nothing from the music, especially for today’s audiences, when performances begin later and cannot last most of the day. She improved the dramatic arc of the oratorio with her edits, and lost none of the power of the piece. The medium-sized Kulas Hall was a perfect venue, allowing greater clarity in the sound than is possible in the vaulted spaces of churches.
The star of the show was Apollo’s chorus, a chorus made up of soloists who work together to make one of the best musical ensembles anywhere. The small size of the orchestra allows for both the pristine quality of a soloist, and the remarkable synthesis of an orchestra of the finest musicians. Power, technique, sensitivity, musicality, expressivity and virtuosity melded together in the perfect ensemble for this under-performed work.
All of the soloists were stellar; some used humor and others sorrow and pathos to help elucidate their storied plight. Countertenor Cody Bowers electrified the audience with his voice and exuberance. Edward Vogel brought the audience to its feet with his aria, and Jacob Perry’s acting ability shined as brightly as his voice. Both Amanda Forsythe and Sonya Headlam galvanized the audience with their expression and irresistible lilt.
Apollo’s Fire performed the work in Chicago on October 19; they performed with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center under Sorrell’s baton on October 24 and 25. They head back to Ohio for November and December.
[Written by Lisa Rene’ DeBenedictis]
Cleveland, OH 44106