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Handel: Theodora, HWV 68

Christina Wieland (Theodora), Diana Schmid (Irene), Franz Vitzthum (Didymus), Knut Schoch (Septimius), Mertens (Valens)

Junge Kantorei & Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra, Joachim Carlos Martini

Handel: Theodora, HWV 68
Capable soloists provide some fine moments despite the awkwardness of their English vowels; Franz Vitzhum performs Didymus tastefully, Knut Schoch's singing is intelligent and Diana Schmid's...

Gramophone Magazine, July 2012

More reviews

Handel: Theodora, HWV 68

Christina Wieland (Theodora), Diana Schmid (Irene), Franz Vitzthum (Didymus), Knut Schoch (Septimius), Mertens (Valens)

Junge Kantorei & Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra, Joachim Carlos Martini

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Capable soloists provide some fine moments despite the awkwardness of their English vowels; Franz Vitzhum performs Didymus tastefully, Knut Schoch's singing is intelligent and Diana Schmid's...

Gramophone Magazine, July 2012

More reviews

About

Set in a time of ancient Rome’s persecution of the Christians, Handel’s late masterpiece Theodora tells of the tragic martyrdom of the heroine and her lover Didymus. The challenging nature of the libretto with its religious conflict, cruelty, self-sacrifice and brothel scene was discomforting for contemporary audiences, and despite Handel’s magnificent music the oratorio was his least successful.

This is part of a series of Handel oratorios from Martini and Junge Kantorei.

Joachim Carlos Martini’s series of Handel’s oratorios has gained considerable critical acclaim and a sizeable following, with ‘first rate’ recommendations from publications such as the Penguin Guide (on Tobit, 8570113-14). Controversial in its time and relatively neglected since, if anything the themes of Theodora resonate more today. Handel’s masterly score is given a tremendous performance here, with a recording consistent with the extremely high standards of the rest of the series.

Contents and tracklist

Excerpt,Handel: Theodora, HWV 68
Work length7:41
Overture
Track length7:41
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act I Scene 1
Work length12:10
Recitativo. 'Tis Dioclesian's natal day (Valens)
Track length0:36
Air. Go, my faithful soldier, go (Valens)
Track length2:04
Chorus. And draw a blessing down (Chorus of Heathens)
Track length2:19
Recitativo. Vouchsafe, dread Sir (Didymus, Valens)
Track length1:04
Air. Racks, gibbets, sword and fire (Valens)
Track length3:52
Chorus. For ever thus stands fix'd the doom (Chorus of Heathens)
Track length2:15
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act I Scene 2
Work length16:42
Recitativo. Most cruel edict! (Didymus)
Track length0:31
Air. The raptur'd soul (Didymus)
Track length7:53
Recitativo. I know thy virtues, and ask not thy faith (Septimius)
Track length0:49
Air. Descend, kind Pity (Septimius)
Track length7:29
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act I Scene 3
Work length13:02
Recitativo. Though hard, my friends (Theodora)
Track length0:24
Air. Fond flatt'ring world, adieu! (Theodora)
Track length4:02
Recitativo. Oh bright example of all goodness (Irene)
Track length0:30
Air. Bane of virtue, nurse of passions (Irene)
Track length5:13
Chorus. Come, mighty Father, mighty Lord (Chorus of Christians)
Track length2:53
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act I Scene 4
Work length8:47
Recitativo. Fly, fly my brethren (Messenger, Irene)
Track length1:03
Air. As With Rosy Steps (Irene)
Track length5:26
Chorus. All pow'r in Heaven above, or earth beneath (Chorus of Christians)
Track length2:18
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act I Scene 5
Work length7:46
  • Christina Wieland, Diana Schmid, Franz Vitzthum, Knut Schoch, Klaus Mertens, Christina Wieland, Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra, Joachim Carlos Martini
  • Junge Kantorei, Barockorchester Frankfurt
  • Joachim Carlos Martini
Recitativo. Mistaken wretches, why thus blind to fate (Septimius)
Track length0:25
Air. Dread the fruits of Christian folly (Septimius)
Track length3:03
Recitativo. Deluded mortal! (Theodora, Septimius)
Track length0:55
Accompagnato. Oh worse Than death indeed! (Theodora)
Track length0:23
Air. Angels, ever bright and fair (Theodora)
Track length3:00
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act I Scene 6
Work length11:09
Recitativo. Unhappy, happy crew! (Didymus, Irene)
Track length1:21
Accompagnato and Air. Kind Heaven, If virtue be thy care (Didymus)
Track length5:04
Recitativo. Oh Love, how great thy pow'r! (Irene)
Track length0:23
Chorus. Go, gen'rous pious youth! (Chorus of Christians)
Track length4:21
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act II Scene 1
Work length6:09
Recitativo. Ye men of Antioch, with solemn pomp (Valens)
Track length0:37
Chorus. Queen of summer, queen of love (Chorus of Heathens)
Track length0:56
Air. Wide spread his Name (Valens)
Track length2:24
Recitativo. Return, Septimius, to the stubborn maid (Valens)
Track length0:45
Chorus. Venus laughing from the skies (Chorus of Heathens)
Track length1:27
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act II Scene 2
Work length9:29
Symphony
Track length0:48
Recitativo. O thou bright sun! How sweet thy rays (Theodora)
Track length0:31
Air. With darkness deep (Theodora)
Track length3:01
Symphony
Track length1:31
Recitativo. But why art thou disquieted, my soul? (Theodora)
Track length0:28
Air. Oh That I on wings could rise (Theodora)
Track length3:10
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act II Scene 3
Work length11:13
Recitativo. Long have I known thy friendly social soul (Didymus, Septimius)
Track length1:21
Air. Though the honours, That Flora and Venus receive from the Romans (Septimius)
Track length4:16
Recitativo. Oh save her then, or give me pow'r (Didymus, Septimius)
Track length0:38
Air. Deeds of kindness to display, pity suing (Didymus)
Track length4:58
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act II Scene 4
Work length5:23
Recitativo. The clouds begin to veil the hemisphere (Irene)
Track length0:42
Air. Defend her Heaven! (Irene)
Track length4:41
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act II Scene 5
Work length14:09
Recitativo. Or lull'd with grief or rapt her soul to heaven (Didymus)
Track length0:32
Air. Sweet Rose and Lily (Didymus)
Track length2:33
Recitativo. Oh save me, Heaven (Theodora, Didymus)
Track length1:29
Air. The pilgrim's home (Theodora)
Track length2:17
Accompagnato. Forbid It, Heaven! (Didymus)
Track length0:54
Recitativo. Or say, what right have I to take what just reflection (Didymus, Theodora)
Track length1:09
Duet. To thee, thou glorious son of worth (Theodora, Didymus)
Track length5:15
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act II Scene 6
Work length5:09
Recitativo. 'Tis night; but night's sweet blessing (Irene)
Track length0:56
Chorus. He saw the lovely youth, death's early prey (Chorus of Christians)
Track length4:13
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act III Scene 1
Work length4:47
Air. Lord, to Thee each night and day (Irene)
Track length4:47
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act III Scene 2
Work length7:36
Recitativo. But see, the good, the virtuous Didymus (Irene, Theodora)
Track length0:40
Air. When sunk in anguish and despair (Theodora)
Track length3:50
Chorus. Blest be the hand, and blest the pow'r (Theodora, Chorus of Christians)
Track length3:06
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act III Scene 3
Work length7:07
Recitativo and Accompagnato. Undaunted in the court stands Didymus (Messenger, Irene, Theodora)
Track length1:31
Duet. Whither, Princess, do you fly? (Irene, Theodora)
Track length1:32
Recitativo. She's gone, disdaining liberty and life (Irene)
Track length0:33
Air. New scenes of joy (Irene)
Track length3:31
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act III Scene 4
Work length2:14
Recitativo. Is It a Christian virtue then (Valens, Didymus) - Scene 5: Be That my doom! [Theodora, Septimius]
Track length2:14
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act III Scene 5
Work length12:00
Air. From virtue springs each gen'rous deed (Septimius)
Track length4:42
Air. Cease, ye slaves, your fruitless pray'r (Valens)
Track length1:18
Recitativo. 'Tis kind, my friends, but kinder still (Didymus, Theodora)
Track length1:05
Chorus. How strange their ends (Chorus of Heathens)
Track length2:50
Recitativo. On me your frowns your utmost rage exert (Didymus, Theodora, Valens)
Track length0:37
Air. Ye ministers of justice, lead them hence (Valens)
Track length1:28
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act III Scene 6
Work length5:48
Recitativo. And must such beauty suffer? (Didymus, Theodora, Septimius)
Track length0:55
Air and Duet. Streams of pleasure ever flowing (Didymus, Theodora)
Track length4:53
Handel: Theodora, HWV 68, Act III Scene 7
Work length2:54
Recitativo. Ere This their doom Is past (Irene)
Track length0:27
Chorus. Oh love devine, thou source of fame (Chorus of Christians)
Track length2:27

Awards and reviews

July 2012

Capable soloists provide some fine moments despite the awkwardness of their English vowels; Franz Vitzhum performs Didymus tastefully, Knut Schoch's singing is intelligent and Diana Schmid's 'Defend her, Heaven' is captivating...The Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra is on good form and Martini respects Handel's orchestrations but his conducting is often lugubrious.

May 2012

[Mertens's] voice is so fresh-sounding that I think few would know that he was just over 60...Very clear in all he sings is Knut Schoch as Septimius...[Schmid] has a soft grain to her tone, which suits the gentle Irene...A crystalline quality marks Wieland's pure sound, also fitting her character. She is limber in her swifter arias and blends beautifully with the Didymus of Franz Vitzhum...all he does in this performance is worth listening to.

4th April 2012

it's the singer in the role of Irene, the mezzo Diana Schmid, who attracts most attention, with the generosity of her phrasing and warm even tone.
3 out of 5 stars
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