Opening Concert – Israel in Egypt – Escape to Exile I

An American by birth, he showed all of France how Baroque music should truly sound – an irony as fascinating as it is unexpected! At 80, William Christie radiates a deep sense of contentment and calm, relishing life in the stunning gardens of Thiré, nestled in the Vendée region a few kilometers southeast of Sainte-Hermine. With undiminished energy, he continues to travel and pursue bold creative visions for the future. For the opening concert, he shines a spotlight on one of history’s most iconic storys of exile: the Israelites’ flight from Egypt, a story Handel brought to life in 1739 with texts from the King James Bible. Central to the oratorio is the choir, embodying the voice of the Hebrew people, through which Handel infuses his work with extraordinary dramatic intensity – powerful and moving as never before.