Handel: Theodora

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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Stephen Eddins
This recording of Handel's penultimate oratorio, "Theodora," taken from live performances at the 1996 Glyndebourne Festival, had previously been released in video format. The production, which was directed by Peter Sellars, and set in contemporary America, elicited a range of critical responses based on its visual imagery, but experienced as a purely aural phenomenon as it is here, the performance makes an overwhelming impact. The work includes some of the composer's most sublime music it was among Handel's own favorites, and it has a libretto that generates considerable sympathy for its psychologically well-delineated characters; it seems like an absolutely natural ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Stephen Eddins
This recording of Handel's penultimate oratorio, "Theodora," taken from live performances at the 1996 Glyndebourne Festival, had previously been released in video format. The production, which was directed by Peter Sellars, and set in contemporary America, elicited a range of critical responses based on its visual imagery, but experienced as a purely aural phenomenon as it is here, the performance makes an overwhelming impact. The work includes some of the composer's most sublime music it was among Handel's own favorites, and it has a libretto that generates considerable sympathy for its psychologically well-delineated characters; it seems like an absolutely natural candidate for presentation as an opera. William Christie works his magic with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, whose playing is gorgeous in its lyricism and refinement, as well as beautifully calibrated in its sensitivity to the drama being enacted, giving the performance a startling emotional urgency. The Glyndebourne Chorus is equally impressive in its generous tonal warmth, brisk precision of execution, and the surging vitality of its singing. It's hard to avoid the cliché of describing the cast as star-studded, and even the less-familiar singers perform at the same exalted level as the most prominent. Counter tenor David Daniels, as Didymus, was at the peak of his powers when the recording was made, and his voice has rarely sounded so vibrant, heroic, and agile. Soprano Dawn Upshaw, too, was at her absolute best performing the title role, singing with fullness and evenness of tone and characteristically intense dramatic focus. In the nearly as prominent role of Irene, mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt who had not yet added Lieberson to her name makes an indelible impression, singing with velvety tone and impeccable technique, and an uncanny gift for conveying the depth of her character's emotional core; her musical and dramatic presence is simply riveting. Given tenor Richard Croft's powerful portrayal of Septimius, it is astonishing that he never achieved the same international prominence as the other leads. His agility in tossing off Handel's coloratura writing and the sweetness and purity of his voice make his a stand-out performance. Bass Frode Olsen has had very limited exposure on recordings, but his potent performance as the villainous Valens is in every way on par with that of his colleagues. Tenor Michael Hart-Davis shines in the small role of the Messenger. The release was made from recordings of several performances, so the sound is not consistent. At its worst, as at the beginning of the opera, there is considerable audience noise and interference, but for the most part the sound is good. The balance is always excellent, and the sound has a lively presence that adds to the dramatic punch of the music. Highly recommended.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 5/29/2012
  • Label: Glyndebourne
  • UPC: 878280000146
  • Catalog Number: 14
  • Sales rank: 77,300

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1–77 Theodora, oratorio, HWV 68 - George Frideric Handel & William Christie (200:09)
    Composed byGeorge Frideric Handel, George Frideric Handel
    Conducted byWilliam Christie
    Performed byWilliam Christie, David Daniels [countertenor], Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Frode Olsen, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Dawn Upshaw, Michael Hart-Davis, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Richard Croft
    1. 1Part 1. Overture
    2. 2Part 1. Scene 1. Recitative. 'Tis Diclesian's natal day
    3. 3Part 1. Scene 1. Air. Go, my faithful soldier, go
    4. 4Part 1. Scene 1. Chorus. And draw a dressing down
    5. 5Part 1. Scene 1. Recitative. Vouchsafe, dread Sir
    6. 6Part 1. Scene 1. Air. Racks, gibbets, sword or fire
    7. 7Part 1. Scene 1. Chorus. Forever thus stands fix'd
    8. 8Part 1. Scene 2. Recitative. Most cruel edict
    9. 9Part 1. Scene 2. Air. The raptur'd soul
    10. 10Part 1. Scene 2. Recitative. I know thy virtues
    11. 11Part 1. Scene 2. Air. Descend, kind pity
    12. 12Part 1. Scene 3. Recitative. Tho' hard, my friends
    13. 13Part 1. Scene 3. Recitative. Fond, flatt'ring world, adieu
    14. 14Part 1. Scene 3. Recitative. O bright example
    15. 15Part 1. Scene 3. Air. Bane of virtue
    16. 16Part 1. Scene 3. Chorus. Come, mighty Father
    17. 17Part 1. Scene 4. Recitative. Fly, fly, my brethren
    18. 18Part 1. Scene 4. Air. As with rosy steps the morn
    19. 19Part 1. Scene 4. Chorus. All pow'r in Heav'n
    20. 20Part 1. Scene 5. Recitative. Mistaken wretches!
    21. 21Part 1. Scene 5. Air. Dread the fruits of Christian folly
    22. 22Part 1. Scene 5. Recitative. Deluded mortals
    23. 23Part 1. Scene 5. Recitative. O worse than death indeed
    24. 24Part 1. Scene 5. Air. Angels, ever bright and fair
    25. 25Part 1. Scene 6. Recitative. Unhappy, happy crew
    26. 26Part 1. Scene 6. Air. Kind Heav'n, if virtue be thy care
    27. 27Part 1. Scene 7. Recitative. O love, how great thy pow'r
    28. 28Part 1. Scene 7. Chorus. Go, generous pious youth
    29. 29Part 2. Scene 1. Recitative. Ye men of Antioch
    30. 30Part 2. Scene 1. Chorus. Queen of Summer
    31. 31Part 2. Scene 1. Air. Wide spread his name
    32. 32Part 2. Scene 1. Recitative. Return, Septimius
    33. 33Part 2. Scene 1. Chorus. Venus laughing from the skies
    34. 34Part 2. Scene 1. Symphony
    35. 35Part 2. Scene 2. Recitative. Oh thou bright Sun
    36. 36Part 2. Scene 2. Recitative. With darkness deep
    37. 37Part 2. Scene 2. Symphony
    38. 38Part 2. Scene 2. Recitative. But why art thou disquieted
    39. 39Part 2. Scene 2. Air. Oh, that I on wings could rise
    40. 40Part 2. Scene 3. Recitative. Long have I known
    41. 41Part 2. Scene 3. Air. Tho' the honours that Flora
    42. 42Part 2. Scene 3. Recitative. O, save her then
    43. 43Part 2. Scene 3. Air. Deeds of kindness to display
    44. 44Part 2. Scene 4. Recitative. The clouds begin to veil
    45. 45Part 2. Scene 4. Air. Defend her Heav'n
    46. 46Part 2. Scene 5. Recitative. Or lull'd with grief
    47. 47Part 2. Scene 5. Air. Sweet rose and lily
    48. 48Part 2. Scene 5. Recitative. O, save me, Heav'n
    49. 49Part 2. Scene 5. Air. The pilgrim's home
    50. 50Part 2. Scene 5. Recitative. Forbid it, Heav'n
    51. 51Part 2. Scene 5. Recitative. Ah, what is liberty
    52. 52Part 2. Scene 5. Duet. To thee, thou glorious son of worth
    53. 53Part 2. Scene 6. Recitative. 'Tis night
    54. 54Part 2. Scene 6. Chorus. He saw the lovely youth
    55. 55Part 3. Scene 1. Recitative. Lord to thee each night and day
    56. 56Part 3. Scene 2. Recitative. But see, the good, the virtuous
    57. 57Part 3. Scene 2. Air. When sunk in anguish and despair
    58. 58Part 3. Scene 2. Recitative. Blessed be the pow'r
    59. 59Part 3. Scene 2. Chorus. Blessing, honour, adoration, / Blest be the hand
    60. 60Part 3. Scene 3. Recitative. Undaunted in the court
    61. 61Part 3. Scene 3. Recitative. O my Irene, Heav'n is kind
    62. 62Part 3. Scene 3. Duet. Whither, Princess, do you fly
    63. 63Part 3. Scene 3. Recitative. She's gone, disdaining liberty and life
    64. 64Part 3. Scene 3. Air. New scenes of joy come crowding on
    65. 65Part 3. Scene 4. Recitative. Is it a Christian virtue then
    66. 66Part 3. Scene 5. Recitative. Be that my doom
    67. 67Part 3. Scene 5. Air. From virtue springs each gen'rous deed
    68. 68Part 3. Scene 5. Air. Cease ye slaves, your fruitless pray'r
    69. 69Part 3. Scene 5. Recitative. 'Tis kind, my friends
    70. 70Part 3. Scene 5. Air. Lost in anguish
    71. 71Part 3. Scene 5. Chorus. How strange their ends
    72. 72Part 3. Scene 5. Recitative. On me your frowns
    73. 73Part 3. Scene 5. Air. Ye ministers of justice
    74. 74Part 3. Scene 6. Recitative. And must such beauty suffer
    75. 75Part 3. Scene 6. Air and Duet. Streams of pleasure, ever flowing / Thither let our hearts aspire
    76. 76Part 3. Scene 7. Recitative. Ere this, their doom is past
    77. 77Part 3. Scene 7. Chorus. O, love divine
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Dawn Upshaw Primary Artist
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Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Reviews

  • Posted November 19, 2012

    Outstanding recording of this Baroque Opera

    This three disc set from the Glyndebourne Festival Opera of a 1996 production of this opera features a young David Daniels (countertenor), Dawn Upshaw (soprano), Richard Croft (tenor), and Lorraine Hunt (mezzo-soprano). This tale of Christian Martyrdom in and of itself is quite fitting for a production, but this cast just sizzles. David Daniels was certainly in fine voice on the day this was recorded, as his rich velvet countertenor caresses the ears while Handel’s music touches the heart and mind. Dawn Upshaw and Richard Croft both do remarkable justice to their characters, but Lorraine Hunt has just an amazing voice – it is captivating, and with Handel the voices themselves are in good hands. William Christie conducts and performs on harpsichord, and his touch is sure and the sound of his instrument bright.

    As is typical of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera recordings (of which I have several), the liner notes are excellent, documenting not only the historical information relevant to the creation of this piece but also providing the full text of the opera. Photographs of the production are also reproduced therein. And the recording quality is just simply outstanding.

    This three disc set is a steal. It is captivating, thrilling, and provides a very satisfying listening experience. It makes you wish you had been there in person. Very highly recommended.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Reviews