Commissioned by the Jewish Community of Amsterdam and composed in 1774, Cristiano Giuseppe Lidarti’s oratorio tells the biblical story of how Queen Esther rescued the Jews of Persia from King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) and his scheming advisor, Haman. Scored for orchestra, soloists, and chamber choir, and sung entirely in Hebrew, Lidarti’s captivating writing brings the story of Esther alive.

Commissioned by the Jewish Community of Amsterdam and composed in 1774, Cristiano Giuseppe Lidarti’s oratorio tells the biblical story of how Queen Esther rescued the Jews of Persia from King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) and his scheming advisor, Haman. Scored for orchestra, soloists, and chamber choir, and sung entirely in Hebrew, Lidarti’s captivating writing brings the story of Esther alive.

Vocal and instrumental music by Claudio Monteverdi, Heinrich Schütz, and Johann Hermann Schein, interspersed with Hebrew readings of the original texts.

Rarely-performed Hebrew liturgical settings for two voices, violins, and continuo, by the composers Cristiano Giuseppe Lidarti, Abraham Caceres, and Volunio Gallicchi.