HANDEL: Theodora

Georg Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Theodora

Oratorio in 3 Acts

Heather Harper, Maureen Forrester, Maureen Lehane, Alexander Young, John Lawrenson, Edgar Fleet
Amor Artis Chorale
English Chamber Orchestra
Johannes Somary, director
Harold Lester, harpsichord

Theodora (HWV 68) is an oratorio in three acts by George Frideric Handel, set to an English libretto by Thomas Morell. The oratorio concerns the Christian martyr Theodora and her Christian-converted Roman lover, Didymus.

Handel wrote Theodora during his last period of composition, his Indian summer. He was sixty-four years old when he began working on it in June 1749. He had written the oratorios Solomon and Susanna the previous year. Theodora would be his second-to-last oratorio.

Theodora differs from the former two oratorios because it is a tragedy, ending in the death of the heroine and her converted lover. The music is much more direct than the earlier works, transcending the mediocrity of the libretto (which was true for several of Handel's works)so that the characters and the drama are well-defined.

Theodora was a a favorite with Handel himself among his oratorios; (this) Vanguard account is traditional in style and is directed by an intelligent Handelian, Johannes Somary. With fresh and sympathetic singing from soloists who are stylistically at home in Handel, the result is most enjoyable. Maureen Forrester in particular sings superbly...the recording has transferred warmly and vividly to CD.
Penguin Guide