Extraordinary Handel Masterpiece a KCS First
On 16 November 2025 at 7.30 All Saints Church Kingston will become the stage for intensely powerful musical drama as Kingston Choral Society opens their 75th season with a truly remarkable work.
Handel’s Israel in Egypt is one of Handel’s most lavish and dramatic oratorios. Unusually, the soloists’ contributions are secondary as the choir is given the starring role in the turbulent narrative, relating the story of the Biblical plagues, the Israelites’ flight from Egypt via the parting of the Red Sea, and their triumph over the Pharaoh’s army. The plot unfolds in a series of thrilling and startlingly inventive choruses.
It is fitting that KCS should introduce their 75th Anniversary season with a Handel oratorio. The formation of what was originally the Surbiton Oratorio Society was inspired by the desire of the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston to stage a monumental performance of Handel’s Messiah in the borough by bringing together Church and other choirs in 1949 for a concert that was staged at St Andrew’s Church, Surbiton on 30 March 1950.
Since then, KCS has frequently returned to Handel’s Messiah, and has also enjoyed performing other favourite Handel works, including his Coronation Anthems, Chandos Anthems, Dixit Dominus, Laudate Pueri Dominum, choruses from Acis and Galatea and his splendid oratorio Solomon. However, this will be their first ever performance of this extraordinary masterpiece, KCS is joined by the period instruments of The Purcell Orchestra and six fine young soloists from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
KCS gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust, and of the Josephine Baker Trust for the soloists in this concert.
