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Special offer. Handel: Theodora

Lisette Oropesa (Theodora), Joyce DiDonato (Irene), Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian (Didymus), Michael Spyres (Septimius), John Chest (Valens), Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

Handel: Theodora

Awards:

This is now the benchmark Theodora; it is optimally cast, dramatically intense and luminously beautiful. Its world-class principals use their fine vocal qualities to deepen their characters....

BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 20225 out of 5 stars

More reviews

Special offer. Handel: Theodora

Lisette Oropesa (Theodora), Joyce DiDonato (Irene), Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian (Didymus), Michael Spyres (Septimius), John Chest (Valens), Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

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Awards:

This is now the benchmark Theodora; it is optimally cast, dramatically intense and luminously beautiful. Its world-class principals use their fine vocal qualities to deepen their characters....

BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 20225 out of 5 stars

More reviews

About

• True cast of stars for this recording of Handel’s masterpiece Theodora: Lisette Oropesa in the title role; Joyce DiDonato as Irene; Michael Spyres as Septimius; John Chest as Valens; Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian as Didymus

• With Il Pomo d'Oro orchestra and choir and conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev

• This follows the acclaimed recording of Agrippina, also with the winning team of Joyce, Maxim, and Il Pomo d’Oro – Gramophone Editor’s Choice of March 2021

• A dramatic oratorio in three acts set to an English libretto by Thomas Morell, Theodora (HWV 68) concerns the Christian martyr Theodora and her Christian-converted Roman lover, Didymus

• Great critical acclaim for the performances in Europe and at the Royal Opera House; German Opernglas called the cast a "Luxusbesetzung"

• "…the stage is dominated by the almost overwhelming presence of Joyce DiDonato. Physical presence, on the one hand, notably in the visual communication maintained with the choir … Vocal presence, on the other hand, so much the mezzo impresses by the depth of her commitment, the absolute mastery of her singing, the imagination and the audacity of her ornaments. Dramatic presence, one would have to add, by the incredible projection of the text … From a character of little theatrical interest, she ends up being the pillar of the work.” – Res Musica

  • Release date: 28th Oct 2022
  • Label: Erato
  • Catalogue number: 5419717791
  • Length: 2 hours 58 minutes
  • Genre:

Contents and tracklist

Handel: Theodora, HWV 68
Work length6:19
Overture
Track length2:58
Trio
Track length1:45
Courante
Track length1:36
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 1, Scene 1
Work length10:22
Recitative. "Tis Diocletian’s Natal Day" (Valens)
Track length0:30
Air. "Go, My Faithful Soldier, Go" (Valens)
Track length1:52
Chorus. "And Draw a Blessing Down" (Chorus)
Track length2:03
Recitative. "Vouchsafe, Dread Sir" (Didymus, Valens)
Track length1:02
Air. "Racks, Gibbets, Sword and Fire" (Valens)
Track length3:15
Chorus. "For Ever Thus Stands Fix’d the Doom" (Chorus)
Track length1:40
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 1, Scene 2
Work length17:40
Recitative. "Most Cruel Edict" (Didymus, Septimius)
Track length0:35
Air. "The Raptur’d Soul" (Didymus)
Track length8:12
Recitative. "I Know Thy Virtues" (Septimius)
Track length0:42
Air. "Descend, Kind Pity, Heav’nly Guest" (Septimius)
Track length8:11
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 1, Scene 3
Work length13:25
Recitative. "Though Hard, My Friends" (Theodora)
Track length0:27
Air. "Fond, Flatt’ring World, Adieu" (Theodora)
Track length4:00
Recitative. "O Bright Example of All Goodness" (Irene)
Track length0:38
Air. "Bane of Virtue" (Irene)
Track length5:51
Chorus. "Come, Mighty Father" (Chorus)
Track length2:29
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 1, Scene 4
Work length10:43
Recitative. "Fly, Fly, My Brethren" (Messenger, Irene)
Track length1:08
Air. "As with Rosy Steps the Morn" (Irene)
Track length7:18
Chorus. "All Pow’r in Heav’n Above" (Chorus)
Track length2:17
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 1, Scene 5
Work length8:05
Recitative. "Mistaken Wretches!" (Septimius)
Track length0:20
Air. "Dread the Fruits of Christian Folly" (Septimius)
Track length2:41
Recitative. "Deluded Mortal!" (Theodora, Septimius)
Track length1:02
Accompagnato. "Oh, Worse Than Death Indeed" (Theodora)
Track length0:23
Air. "Angels, Ever Bright and Fair" (Theodora)
Track length3:39
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 1, Scene 6
Work length11:49
Recitative. "Unhappy, Happy Crew!" (Didymus, Irene)
Track length1:13
Air. "Kind Heav’n, If Virtue Be Thy Care" (Didymus)
Track length5:21
Recitative. "O Love, How Great Thy Pow’r!" (Irene)
Track length0:34
Chorus. "Go, Gen’rous, Pious Youth" (Chorus)
Track length4:41
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 2, Scene 1
Work length5:25
Recitative. "Ye Men of Antioch" (Valens)
Track length0:33
Chorus. "Queen of Summer, Queen of Love" (Chorus)
Track length0:42
Air. "Wide Spread His Name" (Valens)
Track length2:11
Recitative. "Return, Septimius, to the Stubborn Maid" (Valens)
Track length0:40
Chorus. "Venus, Laughing from the Skies" (Chorus)
Track length1:19
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 2, Scene 2
Work length9:32
Symphony
Track length0:54
Recitative. "O Thou Bright Sun" (Theodora)
Track length0:35
Air. "With Darkness Deep, as is My Woe" (Theodora)
Track length3:07
Air
Track length1:03
Recitative. "But Why Art Thou Disquieted, My Soul" (Theodora)
Track length0:30
Air. "Oh That I on Wings Could Rise" (Theodora)
Track length3:23
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 2, Scene 3
Work length12:11
Recitative. "Long Have I Known" (Didymus, Septimius)
Track length1:20
Air. "Though the Honours" (Septimius)
Track length3:12
Recitative. "Oh, Save Her Then" (Didymus, Septimius)
Track length0:38
Air. "Deeds of Kindness to Display" (Didymus)
Track length7:01
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 2, Scene 4
Work length6:26
Recitative. "The Clouds Begin to Veil" (Irene)
Track length0:40
Air. "Defend Her, Heav’n!" (Irene)
Track length5:46
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 2, Scene 5
Work length14:27
Recitative. "Or Lull’d With Grief" (Didymus)
Track length0:38
Air. "Sweet Rose and Lily" (Didymus)
Track length2:17
Recitative. "Oh, Save Me, Heav’n" (Theodora, Didymus)
Track length1:33
Air. "The Pilgrim’s Home" (Theodora)
Track length2:58
Accompagnato. "Forbid It, Heav’n!" (Didymus)
Track length0:37
Recitative. "Or Say, What Right Have I to Take" (Didymus, Theodora)
Track length1:58
Duet. "To Thee, Thou Glorious Son of Worth" (Theodora, Didymus)
Track length4:26
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 2, Scene 6
Work length4:29
Recitative. "’Tis Night" (Irene)
Track length0:47
Chorus. "He Saw the Lovely Youth" (Chorus)
Track length3:42
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 3, Scene 1: Air. "Lord, to Thee Each Night and Day" (Irene)
Work length7:04
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 3, Scene 2
Work length7:53
Recitative. "But See, the Good, the Virtuous Didymus" (Irene, Theodora)
Track length0:38
Air. "When Sunk in Anguish and Despair" (Theodora)
Track length3:36
Theodora and Chorus. "Blest Be the Hand, and Blest the Pow’r" (Theodora, Chorus)
Track length3:39
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 3, Scene 3
Work length7:40
Recitative. "Undaunted in the Court" (Messenger, Irene)
Track length0:50
Accompagnato. "O My Irene" (Theodora)
Track length0:29
Recitative. "Stay Me Not, Dear Friend" (Theodora)
Track length0:14
Duet. "Whither, Princess, Do You Fly" (Irene, Theodora)
Track length1:12
Recitative. "She’s Gone" (Irene)
Track length0:38
Air. "New Scenes of Joy Come Crowding on" (Irene)
Track length4:17
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 3, Scene 4: Recitative. "Is It a Christian Virtue" (Valens, Didymus, Theodora, Septimius)
Work length1:12
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 3, Scene 5
Work length13:43
Recitative. "Be That My Doom" (Theodora, Septimius)
Track length1:02
Air. "From Virtue Springs Each Gen’rous Deed" (Septimius)
Track length5:45
Air. "Cease, Ye Slaves, Your Fruitless Pray’r" (Valens)
Track length1:02
Recitative. "’Tis Kind, My Friends" (Didymus, Theodora)
Track length1:01
Chorus. "How Strange Their Ends, Yet How Glorious" (Chorus)
Track length2:50
Recitative. "On Me Your Frowns" (Didymus, Theodora, Valens)
Track length0:37
Air. "Ye Ministers of Justice" (Valens)
Track length1:26
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 3, Scene 6
Work length6:31
Recitative. "And Must Such Beauty Suffer?" (Didymus, Theodora, Septimius)
Track length0:54
Air and Duet. "Streams of Pleasure Ever Flowing" (Didymus, Theodora)
Track length5:37
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Pt. 3, Scene 7
Work length3:12
Recitative. "Ere This, Their Doom is Past" (Irene)
Track length0:30
Chorus. "O Love Divine" (Chorus)
Track length2:42

Spotlight on this release

Awards and reviews

  • Presto Recording of the Week
    28th October 2022
  • Presto Recordings of the Year
    Finalist 2022
  • BBC Music Magazine
    Christmas 2022
    Recording of the Month
  • Sunday Times
    10 Best Classical Albums of 2022
  • BBC Music Magazine Awards
    2023
    Winner - Choral
  • Opus Klassik Awards
    2023
    Nominated - Female Singer of the Year (Oropesa & DiDonato)
  • Opus Klassik Awards
    2023
    Nominated - Male Singer of the Year (Spyres)
  • Opus Klassik Awards
    2023
    Nominated - Conductor of the Year

Christmas 2022

This is now the benchmark Theodora; it is optimally cast, dramatically intense and luminously beautiful. Its world-class principals use their fine vocal qualities to deepen their characters. With a precocious band and commanding chorus under Maxim Emelyanychev, the result is spellbinding.
5 out of 5 stars

December 2022

The finest performance – and the biggest single reason for acquiring the recording – is Joyce DiDonato in the role of Theodora’s confidant Irene. True to form, DiDonato probes emotional extremes.

28th October 2022

Oropesa brings a fuller, warmer sound to the title-role than many of her predecessors, and it makes for an interesting perspective on the character...Likewise, Joyce DiDonato’s fierce Irene is worlds away from the stoic, other-worldly serenity which Lorraine Hunt Lieberson famously brought to the role for Peter Sellars...Il Pomo d’Oro play out of their boots for Emelyanychev, whose occasional interjections from the harpsichord are always illuminating rather than intrusive.
Katherine Cooper

11th December 2022

It has everything: not just sprightly and generous playing under Emelyanychev’s direction but also an ideal cast of starry singers who fully inhabit the music’s intense emotions.
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