On 29 June 1888, an excerpt from Handel’s Israel in Egypt was captured on wax cylinder at London’s Crystal Palace
The Handel festival
30 June 1888
London, Friday night
The performance given to-day of Israel in Egypt was a triumph for all concerned, but in a special sense for the illustrious composer. Never, indeed, could his intentions in composing the work have been more perfectly brought out.
Among the distinguished persons present at to-day’s performance was Mr Gladstone, who occupied the Royal box, and who on rising at the end of the first part was saluted with marks of approbation, which, originating in the Handel orchestra, soon spread throughout the vast assemblage. The applause was varied here and there with a few hisses, which, strange to say, seemed to proceed in all cases from ladies. It appeared a pity that the veteran statesman could not be allowed to hear a fine musical performance in peace, the more that he generally makes a point of attending at least one of the festival performances in memory of Handel.
One other thing may be mentioned. Mr Edison’s phonograph was at work in one of the galleries, and recorded the rendering of He rebuked the Red Sea, He led them through the deep, He is my God, and other selected choruses. A “phonogram” was also made of the great outburst of cheering that greeted the arrival of Mr Gladstone. Colonel Gouraud, who made the experiment, did not attempt to record any solo pieces, feeling that the phonograph was too distant from the vocalist. The cylinders are to be transmitted to Mr Edison in New York.
This is an edited extract. Read the full article.
Recording of Handel’s Israel in Egypt, 29 June 1888. Source: YouTube