Anniversary concert ‘Moses’ by Max Bruch

2 November 2025

On Sunday, 31 May 2026, Concert Choir Haarlem will celebrate its 80th anniversary with a performance of Max Bruch’s monumental oratorio “Moses”.

The German composer Max Bruch (1838–1920) gained posthumous fame with his violin concertos. However, it is less well known that the vast majority of his hundred published works were written for voice.

Moses, composed in 1894, is one of his later and rarely performed works. The oratorio tells the story of Moses and the exodus from Egypt. Bruch thus chose a work that, in dramatic terms, would be a direct continuation of Handel’s Israel in Egypt from 1739. The character of Moses had to be portrayed as a caring but prophetic leader. Many of these characteristics were common to the heroes of Bruch’s earlier secular works. The work very clearly follows the model of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”.

The music is romantic in its finest form: intimate and moving in its tranquillity, but also compelling, full of dramatic choral passages, lyrical arias and powerful orchestral moments. The characteristic melodic richness and warm harmonies give Moses a spiritual and emotional depth with a voice and dramatic power all of its own. The orchestration is colourful: from menacing brass to brilliant solos for harp and English horn. The three vocal soloists elevate the text above themselves with dramatic expressiveness. The choir gives voice to the emotions of the people, in all tones and feelings. The organ also plays a prominent role.

The composer himself said of his “Moses”: “Once in the life of every deeply committed artist, the best and deepest emotions of his soul will be revealed to the world through the medium of his art”.

Come and listen and judge for yourself!