Theodora

Album by George Frideric Handel & Roberta Alexander & Hans Peter Blochwitz & Jochen Kowalski & Jard van Nes & Anton Scharinger & Arnold Schoenberg Chor & Concentus Musicus Wien & Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Theodora is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel, premiered in 1750. The work draws on Baroque choral and orchestral forces with dramatic recitative and arioso writing, and represents a later-stage Handelian approach to oratorio that emphasises contrapuntal textures and harmonic richness within an English sacred-dramatic framework.
First released: 1999

Tracklist

  1. 1.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Overture
    3:15
  2. 2.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 2, no. 34. Largo
    1:12
  3. 3.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 2, no. 35. Recitative “O thou bright sun!” (Theodora)
    0:38
  4. 4.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "'tis Dioclesian's natal day"
    0:33
  5. 5.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 2, no. 36. Air “With darkness deep” (Theodora)
    4:00
  6. 6.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Go, my faithful soldier"
    2:10
  7. 7.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "And draw a blessing down"
    2:19
  8. 8.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 2, no. 37. Largo
    1:56
  9. 9.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Vouchsafe, dread Sir"
    1:00
  10. 10.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 2, no. 38. Recitative “But why art thou disquieted, my soul?” (Theodora)
    0:27
  11. 11.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 3. Recitative “Septimius, I am a Christian” (Didymus, Septimius)
    0:45
  12. 12.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Racks, gibbets, sword and fire"
    2:51
  13. 13.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "For ever thus stands"
    2:06
  14. 14.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 3, no. 41. Air “Though the honours” (Septimius)
    3:54
  15. 15.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Most cruel edict"
    0:32
  16. 16.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 3, no. 42. Recitative “Oh, save her then” (Didymus, Septimius)
    0:42
  17. 17.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "The raptur'd soul"
    3:47
  18. 18.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 4, no. 44. Recitative “The clouds begin to veil” (Irene)
    0:38
  19. 19.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 4, no. 45. Air “Defend her, Heav’n!” (Irene)
    5:35
  20. 20.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "I know thy virtues"
    0:42
  21. 21.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 5, no. 46. Recitative “Or lull’d with grief” (Didymus)
    0:21
  22. 22.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Descend, kind pity"
    6:59
  23. 23.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 5, no. 47. Air “Sweet rose and lily” (Didymus)
    2:50
  24. 24.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Though hard, my friends"
    0:28
  25. 25.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Fond flatt'ring world"
    3:58
  26. 26.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 5, no. 48. Recitative “Oh save me, Heav’n!” (Theodora, Didymus)
    1:13
  27. 27.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 5, no. 49. Air “The pilgrim’s home” (Theodora)
    3:06
  28. 28.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Oh bright example"
    0:29
  29. 29.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 5, no. 50. Accompagnato “Forbid it, Heav’n!” (Didymus)
    0:36
  30. 30.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Come, mighty Father"
    3:03
  31. 31.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Fly, fly, my brethren"
    1:01
  32. 32.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 5. Recitative “Ah! What is liberty” (Theodora, Didymus)
    0:56
  33. 33.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 5, no. 51. Duet “To thee, thou glorious son of worth” (Theodora, Didymus)
    4:55
  34. 34.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "As with rosy steps"
    5:19
  35. 35.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "All pow'r in heaven above"
    2:24
  36. 36.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 6, no. 52. Recitative “’tis night, but night’s sweet blessing is denied” (Irene)
    0:29
  37. 37.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II, Scene 6, no. 53. Chorus “He saw the lovely youth” (Chorus of Christians)
    5:22
  38. 38.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Mistaken wretches"
    0:24
  39. 39.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Deluded mortal!"
    0:45
  40. 40.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 1, no. 54. Air “Lord, to Thee each night and day” (Irene)
    4:49
  41. 41.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Oh worse than death indeed"
    0:32
  42. 42.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 2, no. 55. Recitative “But see, the good, the virtuous Didymus!” (Irene, Theodora)
    0:41
  43. 43.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Angels, ever bright and fair"
    2:55
  44. 44.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 2, no. 57. Chorus and solo “Blest be the hand” (Chorus of Christians, Theodora)
    3:17
  45. 45.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Unhappy, happy crew"
    0:48
  46. 46.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 3. Recitative “Ah, Theodora! Whence this sudden change” (Irene, Theodora)
    0:58
  47. 47.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Kind Heaven"
    2:37
  48. 48.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 3, no. 59. Duet “Whither, Princess, do you fly?” (Irene, Theodora)
    1:37
  49. 49.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 3, no. 60. Recitative “She’s gone” (Irene)
    0:29
  50. 50.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Oh love, how great thy pow'r"
    0:23
  51. 51.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 5. Recitative “Dwells there such virtuous courage” (Septimius)
    0:14
  52. 52.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act I. "Go, gen'rous pious youth"
    5:30
  53. 53.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 5, no. 63. Air “From virtue springs each gen’rous deed” (Septimius)
    3:19
  54. 54.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II. "Ye men of Antioch"
    0:34
  55. 55.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II. "Queen of summer"
    0:47
  56. 56.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 5, no. 64. Air “Cease, ye slaves, your fruitless pray’r!” (Valens)
    1:10
  57. 57.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 5. Recitative “Oppose not, Didymus” (Theodora)
    0:28
  58. 58.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II. "Wide spread"
    2:29
  59. 59.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II. "Return, Septimius"
    0:33
  60. 60.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 5, no. 66. Chorus “How strange their ends” (Chorus of Heathens)
    2:29
  61. 61.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act II. "Venus laughing from the skies"
    1:31
  62. 62.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 5, no. 67. Recitative “On me your frowns” (Didymus, Theodora, Valens)
    0:46
  63. 63.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 6, no. 69. Recitative “And must such beauty suffer?” (Didymus, Theodora, Septimius)
    0:45
  64. 64.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 6, no. 70. Duet “Streams of pleasure ever flowing” (Didymus, Theodora)
    3:58
  65. 65.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 7, no. 71. Recitative “Ere this, their doom is past” (Irene)
    0:19
  66. 66.
    Theodora, HWV 68: Act III, Scene 7, no. 72. Chorus “O love divine” (Chorus of Christians)
    3:04

Credits