Millenium Orchestra - Handel: Theodora [CD]

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The oratorio Theodora was first performed at the Covent Garden Theatre on 16 March 1750 and clearly took Londoners by surprise. Handel had, after all, made a one-hundred-and-eighty -degree turn in his choice of subject. The grandiose episodes of the Old Testament, the glorious struggles of Solomon, Saul, or Judas Maccabaeus are no more: the young martyr Theodora leads neither a community nor troops into battle. In a work far removed from the grand spectacle of biblical oratorios, Handel invites us to witness the poignant tale of a personal drama, a drama of the beginnings of Christianity fuelled by conscience, faith, and the heartbreak that they cause. Tracklist: Theodora, HWV 68~Ouverture Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: 'Tis Dioclesian's natal day Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Air: Go, my faithful soldier Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Chorus of Heathens: And draw a blessing down Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: Vouchsafe, dread Sir, a gracious ear Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Air: Racks, gibbets, sword and fire Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Chorus of Heathens: For ever thus stands fix'd the doom Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: Most cruel edict! Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Air: The raptur'd soul defies the sword Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: I know thy virtues, and ask not thy faith Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Air: Descend, kind pity, heav'nly guest Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: Though hard, my friends Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Air: Fond, flatt'ring world, adieu! Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: O bright example of all goodness! Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Chorus of Christians: Come, mighty Father, mighty Lord Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: Fly, fly, my brethren, heathen rage pursues us swift Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Air: As with rosy steps the morn Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Chorus of Christians: All pow'r in Heav'n above or earth beneath Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: Mistaken wretches! Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Air: Dread the fruits of Christian folly Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: Deluded mortal! Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Accompagnato: Oh, worse than death indeed! Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Air: Angels, ever bright and fair Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: Unhappy, happy crew! Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Air: Kind Heav'n, if virtue be thy care Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Recitative: O love, how great thy pow'r! Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene Chorus of Christians: Go, gen'rous, pious youth Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: Ye men of Antioch, with solemn pomp Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Chorus of Haethens: Queen of summer, queen of love Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Air: Wide spread his name Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: Return, Septimius, to the stubborn maid Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Chorus of Haethens: Venus laughing from the skies Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Sinfonia (Largo) Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: O thou bright sun! Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Air: With darkness deep, as is my woe Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Air (Lentement) Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: But why art thou disquieted, my soul? Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Air: Oh, that I on wings could rise Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: Long have I known thy friendly social soul Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Air: Though the honours that Flora and Venus receive Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: Oh, save her then Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Air: Deeds of kindness to display Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: The clouds begin to veil the hemisphere Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Air: Defend her, Heav'n! Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: Or lull'd with grief, or rapt her soul to Heav'n Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Air: Sweet rose and lily, flow'ry form Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: Oh, save me, Heav'n, in this my perilous hour! Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Air: The pilgrim's home, the sick man's he Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Accompagnato: Forbid it, Heav'n! Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: Or say, what right have I Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Duett: To thee, thou glorious son of worth Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Recitative: 'Tis night, but night's sweet blessing is denied Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene Chorus of Christians: He saw the lovely youth, death's early prey Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Air: Lord, to Thee each night and day Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: But see, the good, the virtuous Didymus! Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Air: When sunk in anguish and despair Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Solo and Chorus: Blest be the hand, and blest the pow'r Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: Undaunted in the court stands Didymus Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Accompagnato: O my Irene, Heav'n is kind Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: Stay me not, dear friend Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Duet: Whither, Princess, do you fly Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: She's gone, disdaining liberty and life Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Air: New scenes of joy come crowding on Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: Is it a Christian virtue then Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: Be that my doom. You may inflict it here Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Air: Cease, ye slaves, your fruitless pray'r! Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: 'Tis kind, my friends, but kinder still Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Chorus of Heathens: How strange their ends Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: On me your frowns, your utmost rage exert Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Air: Ye ministers of justice, lead them hence Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: And must such beauty suffer? Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Air and Duett: Streams of pleasure ever flowing Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Recitative: Ere this, their doom is past and they are gone Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene Chorus of Christians: O love divine, thou source of fame UPC: 5400439004856Label: RicercarRelease Date: 4.24.26Format: CD Show more