Handel: Theodora / Christie, Les Arts Florissants

“

Theodora was Handel's next-to-last oratorio, and though it was a failure at its premiere, Handel preferred it above all his others. It tells of the martyrdom of the Christian Theodora (soprano) and her beloved Didymus (countertenor) at the hands of the Romans, with the villainous Valens (bass) in charge. Septimius (tenor) is a sympathetic Roman soldier and Irene (soprano) is Theodora's pious friend. This new recording presents the 3-hour work complete and is simply beautiful: Sophie Daneman sings Theodora's heart-felt arias expressively and with great innocence and lovely tone; Daniel Taylor's slim-voiced but sincere Didymus is effective; Valens's arias are spiteful and aggressive, and Nathan Berg makes a superb heavy; Richard Croft is magnificent in the complex role of Septimius, making his fast, coloratura-filled music sound easy, and Juliette Galstian is suitably devout and attractive of tone for Irene. As usual, William Christie and his Les Arts Florissants are right on the money, playing and singing with verve and commitment. Every so often the chorus (and Galstian) give away the fact that they aren't native English-speakers, but it hardly matters. Those who love Messiah and want to get to know some more Handel will be happy to encounter Theodora. Recommended.

”

Disc: 1

1. - Ouverture
2. - Trio
3. - Courante
4. - Part 1. Scene 1. Recitative. 'Tis Diocletian's natal day
5. - Part 1. Scene 1. Air. Go, my faithful soldier, go
6. - Part 1. Scene 1. Chorus. And draw a blessing down
7. - Part 1. Scene 1. Recitative. Vouchsafe, dread Sir, a gracious ear
8. - Part 1. Scene 1. Air. Racks, gibbets, sword and fire
9. - Part 1. Scene 1. Chorus. For ever thus stands fixed the doom
10. - Part 1. Scene 2. Recitative. Most cruel edict!
11. - Part 1. Scene 2. Air. The rapture'd soul defies the sword
12. - Part 1. Scene 2. Recitative. I know thy virtues
13. - Part 1. Scene 2. Air. Descend, kind pity, heav'nly guest
14. - Part 1. Scene 3. Recitative. Tho' hard, my friends
15. - Part 1. Scene 3. Air. Fond, flatt'ring world, adieu!
16. - Part 1. Scene 3. Recitative. O bright example of all goodness!
17. - Part 1. Scene 3. Air. Bane of virtue
18. - Part 1. Scene 3. Chorus. Come, mighty Father
19. - Part 1. Scene 4. Recitative. Fly, fly, my brethren
20. - Part 1. Scene 4. Air. As with rosy steps the morn
21. - Part 1. Scene 4. Chorus. All pow'r in Heav'n above
22. - Part 1. Scene 5. Recitative. Mistaken wretches!
23. - Part 1. Scene 5. Air. Dread the fruits of Christian folly
24. - Part 1. Scene 5. Recitative. Deluded mortal!
25. - Part 1. Scene 5. Accompagnato. O worse than death indeed!
26. - Part 1. Scene 5. Air. Angels, ever bright and fair
27. - Part 1. Scene 6. Recitative. Unhappy, happy crew!
28. - Part 1. Scene 6. Air. Kind Heav'n, if virtue be thy care
29. - Part 1. Scene 6. Recitative. O love, how great thy pow'r!
30. - Part 1. Scene 6. Chorus. Go, gen'rous, pious youth

Disc: 2

1. - Part 2. Scene 1. Recitative. Ye men of Antioch
2. - Part 2. Scene 1. Chorus. Queen of summer, queen of love
3. - Part 2. Scene 1. Air. Wide spread his name
4. - Part 2. Scene 1. Recitative. Return, Septimius
5. - Part 2. Scene 1. Chorus. Venus, laughing from the skies
6. - Part 2. Scene 2. Symphony
7. - Part 2. Scene 2. Recitative. O thou bright sun!
8. - Part 2. Scene 2. Air. With darkness deep as is my woe
9. - Part 2. Scene 2. Symphony
10. - Part 2. Scene 2. Recitative. But why art thou disquieted, my soul?
11. - Part 2. Scene 2. Air. Oh, that I on wings could rise
12. - Part 2. Scene 3. Recitative. Long have I known
13. - Part 2. Scene 3. Air. Tho' the honours that Flora and Venus receive
14. - Part 2. Scene 3. Recitative. O save her then
15. - Part 2. Scene 3. Air. Deeds of kindness to display
16. - Part 2. Scene 4. Recitative. The clouds begin to veil the hemisphere
17. - Part 2. Scene 4. Air. Defend her, Heav'n
18. - Part 2. Scene 5. Recitative. Or lulled with grief
19. - Part 2. Scene 5. Recitative. O save me, Heav'n
20. - Part 2. Scene 5. Air. The pilgrim's home, the sick man's health
21. - Part 2. Scene 5. Accompagnato. Forbid it, Heav'n!
22. - Part 2. Scene 5. Recitative. Or say, what right have I
23. - Part 2. Scene 5. Duet. To thee, thou glorious son of worth
24. - Part 2. Scene 6. Recitative. 'Tis night, but night's sweet blessing
25. - Part 2. Scene 6. Chorus. He saw the lovely youth

Disc: 3

1. - Part 3. Scene 1. Air. Lord, to thee, each night and day
2. - Part 3. Scene 2. Recitative. But see the good, the virtuous
3. - Part 3. Scene 2. Air. When sunk in anguish and despair
4. - Part 3. Scene 2. Chorus. Blest be the hand
5. - Part 3. Scene 3. Recitative. Undaunted in the Court
6. - Part 3. Scene 3. Accompagnato. O my Irene, Heav'n is kind
7. - Part 3. Scene 3. Duet. Whither, Princess, do you fly
8. - Part 3. Scene 3. Recitative. She's gone, disdaining liberty and life
9. - Part 3. Scene 3. Air. New scenes of joy come crowding on
10. - Part 3. Scene 4. Recitative. Is it a Christian virtue, then / Scene 5. Recitative. Be that my doom
11. - Part 3. Scene 5. Air. From Virtue springs each gen'rous deed
12. - Part 3. Scene 5. Air. Cease, ye slaves, your fruitless pray'r
13. - Part 3. Scene 5. Chorus. How strange their ends
14. - Part 3. Scene 5. Recitative. On me your frowns
15. - Part 3. Scene 6. Recitative. And must such beauty suffer!
16. - Part 3. Scene 6. Air. Streams of pleasure ever flowing / Duet. Thither let our hearts aspire
17. - Part 3. Scene 7. Recitative. Ere this their doom is past
18. - Part 3. Scene 7. Chorus. O love divine, thou source of fame