Handel: Theodora, HWV 68

Handel: Theodora, HWV 68

Joyce DiDonato, Michael Spyres, John Chest, Il Pomo d'Oro, Lisette Oropesa, Maxim Emelyanychev, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

2022

Handel’s oratorio Theodora is an opera in all but name, and this riveting performance led by Russian conductor Maxim Emelyanychev confirms it as one of the composer’s greatest achievements. The American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato is the star name among the soloists, poised and sonorous in her Part I aria “As With Rosy Steps the Morn”. Soprano Lisette Oropesa and countertenor Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian also excel as the Christian martyrs Theodora and Didymus, rising movingly to the challenge of the opera’s heart-wrenching final scene. The wonderfully eloquent choral singing adds further cachet to a set which lovers of Handel’s music should on no account miss hearing.

Overture

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

2:58

Trio

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

1:45

Courante

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

1:36

Recitative. "Tis Diocletian’s Natal Day" (Valens)

John Chest, Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:30

Air. "Go, My Faithful Soldier, Go" (Valens)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, John Chest

1:52

Chorus. "And Draw a Blessing Down" (The Heathens)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

2:03

Recitative. "Vouchsafe, Dread Sir" (Didymus, Valens)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Maxim Emelyanychev, John Chest

1:02

Air. "Racks, Gibbets, Sword and Fire" (Valens)

John Chest, Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

3:15

Chorus. "For Ever Thus Stands Fix’d the Doom" (The Heathens)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

1:40

Recitative. "Most Cruel Edict" (Didymus, Septimius)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Michael Spyres, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:35

Air. "The Raptur’d Soul" (Didymus)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

8:12

Recitative. "I Know Thy Virtues" (Septimius)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Michael Spyres

0:42

Air. "Descend, Kind Pity, Heav’nly Guest" (Septimius)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Michael Spyres

8:11

Recitative. "Though Hard, My Friends" (Theodora)

Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:27

Air. "Fond, Flatt’ring World, Adieu" (Theodora)

Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

4:00

Recitative. "O Bright Example of All Goodness" (Irene)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Joyce DiDonato, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:38

Air. "Bane of Virtue" (Irene)

Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

5:51

Chorus. "Come, Mighty Father" (The Christians)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

2:29

Recitative. "Fly, Fly, My Brethren" (Messenger, Irene)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Joyce DiDonato

1:08

Air. "As with Rosy Steps the Morn" (Irene)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Joyce DiDonato

7:18

Chorus. "All Pow’r in Heav’n Above" (The Christians)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

2:17

Recitative. "Mistaken Wretches!" (Septimius)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Michael Spyres, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:20

Air. "Dread the Fruits of Christian Folly" (Septimius)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Michael Spyres, Il Pomo d'Oro

2:41

Recitative. "Deluded Mortal!" (Theodora, Septimius)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Lisette Oropesa, Michael Spyres

1:02

Accompagnato. "Oh, Worse Than Death Indeed" (Theodora)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Lisette Oropesa, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:23

Air. "Angels, Ever Bright and Fair" (Theodora)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Lisette Oropesa, Maxim Emelyanychev

3:39

Recitative. "Unhappy, Happy Crew!" (Didymus, Irene)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Joyce DiDonato

1:13

Air. "Kind Heav’n, If Virtue Be Thy Care" (Didymus)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Maxim Emelyanychev

5:21

Recitative. "O Love, How Great Thy Pow’r!" (Irene)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev, Joyce DiDonato

0:34

Chorus. "Go, Gen’rous, Pious Youth" (Chorus)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

4:41

Recitative. "Ye Men of Antioch" (Valens)

John Chest, Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:33

Chorus. "Queen of Summer, Queen of Love" (The Heathens)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:42

Air. "Wide Spread His Name" (Valens)

John Chest, Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

2:11

Recitative. "Return, Septimius, to the Stubborn Maid" (Valens)

Il Pomo d'Oro, John Chest, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:40

Chorus. "Venus, Laughing from the Skies" (The Heathens)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

1:19

Symphony

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:54

Recitative. "O Thou Bright Sun" (Theodora)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Lisette Oropesa, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:35

Air. "With Darkness Deep, as is My Woe" (Theodora)

Lisette Oropesa, Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

3:07

Air

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

1:03

Recitative. "But Why Art Thou Disquieted, My Soul" (Theodora)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:30

Air. "Oh That I on Wings Could Rise" (Theodora)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa

3:23

Recitative. "Long Have I Known" (Didymus, Septimius)

Michael Spyres, Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

1:20

Air. "Though the Honours" (Septimius)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Michael Spyres, Il Pomo d'Oro

3:12

Recitative. "Oh, Save Her Then" (Didymus, Septimius)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Maxim Emelyanychev, Michael Spyres

0:38

Air. "Deeds of Kindness to Display" (Didymus)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Maxim Emelyanychev

7:01

Recitative. "The Clouds Begin to Veil" (Irene)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:40

Air. "Defend Her, Heav’n!" (Irene)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Joyce DiDonato, Maxim Emelyanychev

5:46

Recitative. "Or Lull’d With Grief" (Didymus)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

0:38

Air. "Sweet Rose and Lily" (Didymus)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

2:17

Recitative. "Oh, Save Me, Heav’n" (Theodora, Didymus)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa

1:33

Air. "The Pilgrim’s Home" (Theodora)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro

2:58

Accompagnato. "Forbid It, Heav’n!" (Didymus)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:37

Recitative. "Or Say, What Right Have I to Take" (Didymus, Theodora)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Lisette Oropesa, Maxim Emelyanychev

1:58

Duet. "To Thee, Thou Glorious Son of Worth" (Theodora, Didymus)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

4:26

Recitative. "’Tis Night" (Irene)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:47

Chorus. "He Saw the Lovely Youth" (The Heathens)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

3:42

Air. "Lord, to Thee Each Night and Day" (Irene)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d'Oro

7:04

Recitative. "But See, the Good, the Virtuous Didymus" (Irene, Theodora)

Lisette Oropesa, Joyce DiDonato, Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:38

Air. "When Sunk in Anguish and Despair" (Theodora)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro

3:36

Theodora and Chorus. "Blest Be the Hand, and Blest the Pow’r" (Theodora, Chorus)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa

3:39

Recitative. "Undaunted in the Court" (Messenger, Irene)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Joyce DiDonato, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:50

Accompagnato. "O My Irene" (Theodora)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:29

Recitative. "Stay Me Not, Dear Friend" (Theodora)

Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

0:14

Duet. "Whither, Princess, Do You Fly" (Irene, Theodora)

Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro, Joyce DiDonato, Maxim Emelyanychev

1:12

Recitative. "She’s Gone" (Irene)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:38

Air. "New Scenes of Joy Come Crowding on" (Irene)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev, Joyce DiDonato

4:17

Recitative. "Is It a Christian Virtue" (Valens, Didymus, Theodora, Septimius)

John Chest, Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Lisette Oropesa, Michael Spyres

1:12

Recitative. "Be That My Doom" (Theodora, Septimius)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Michael Spyres, Lisette Oropesa

1:02

Air. "From Virtue Springs Each Gen’rous Deed" (Septimius)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Michael Spyres, Maxim Emelyanychev

5:45

Air. "Cease, Ye Slaves, Your Fruitless Pray’r" (Valens)

Maxim Emelyanychev, John Chest, Il Pomo d'Oro

1:02

Recitative. "’Tis Kind, My Friends" (Didymus, Theodora)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

1:01

Chorus. "How Strange Their Ends, Yet How Glorious" (The Heathens)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro

2:50

Recitative. "On Me Your Frowns" (Didymus, Theodora, Valens)

Lisette Oropesa, John Chest, Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

0:37

Air. "Ye Ministers of Justice" (Valens)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev, John Chest

1:26

Recitative. "And Must Such Beauty Suffer?" (Didymus, Theodora, Septimius)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Michael Spyres, Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa

0:54

Air and Duet. "Streams of Pleasure Ever Flowing" (Didymus, Theodora)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Lisette Oropesa, Il Pomo d'Oro, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

5:37

Recitative. "Ere This, Their Doom is Past" (Irene)

Maxim Emelyanychev, Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d'Oro

0:30

Chorus. "O Love Divine" (The Christians)

Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev

2:42

George Frideric Handel

Composer
Joyce DiDonato

Mezzo-Soprano
Michael Spyres

Tenor
Il Pomo d'Oro

Orchestra, Choir
Lisette Oropesa

Soprano