Title: Handel: Theodora
Artist: Millenium Orchestra
Label: Ricercar
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 5400439004856
Genre: Classical Artists
Release Date: 2026-04-24
Number of Discs: 3

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.

Tracks:
1.1 Theodora, HWV 68~Ouverture
1.2 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 1. Recitative: 'Tis Dioclesian's natal day
1.3 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 1. Air: Go, my faithful soldier
1.4 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 1. Chorus of Heathens: And draw a blessing down
1.5 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 1. Recitative: Vouchsafe, dread Sir, a gracious ear
1.6 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 1. Air: Racks, gibbets, sword and fire
1.7 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 1. Chorus of Heathens: For ever thus stands fix'd the doom
1.8 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 2. Recitative: Most cruel edict!
1.9 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 2. Air: The raptur'd soul defies the sword
1.10 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 2. Recitative: I know thy virtues, and ask not thy faith
1.11 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 2. Air: Descend, kind pity, heav'nly guest
1.12 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 3. Recitative: Though hard, my friends
1.13 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 3. Air: Fond, flatt'ring world, adieu!
1.14 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 3. Recitative: O bright example of all goodness!
1.15 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 3. Chorus of Christians: Come, mighty Father, mighty Lord
1.16 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 4. Recitative: Fly, fly, my brethren, heathen rage pursues us swift
1.17 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 4. Air: As with rosy steps the morn
1.18 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 4. Chorus of Christians: All pow'r in Heav'n above or earth beneath
1.19 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 5. Recitative: Mistaken wretches!
1.20 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 5. Air: Dread the fruits of Christian folly
1.21 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 5. Recitative: Deluded mortal!
1.22 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 5. Accompagnato: Oh, worse than death indeed!
1.23 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 5. Air: Angels, ever bright and fair
1.24 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 6. Recitative: Unhappy, happy crew!
1.25 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 6. Air: Kind Heav'n, if virtue be thy care
1.26 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 7. Recitative: O love, how great thy pow'r!
1.27 Theodora, HWV 68~Part I. Scene 7. Chorus of Christians: Go, gen'rous, pious youth
2.1 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 1. Recitative: Ye men of Antioch, with solemn pomp
2.2 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 1. Chorus of Haethens: Queen of summer, queen of love
2.3 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 1. Air: Wide spread his name
2.4 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 1. Recitative: Return, Septimius, to the stubborn maid
2.5 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 1. Chorus of Haethens: Venus laughing from the skies
2.6 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 2. Sinfonia (Largo)
2.7 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 2. Recitative: O thou bright sun!
2.8 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 2. Air: With darkness deep, as is my woe
2.9 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 2. Air (Lentement)
2.10 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 2. Recitative: But why art thou disquieted, my soul?
2.11 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 2. Air: Oh, that I on wings could rise
2.12 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 3. Recitative: Long have I known thy friendly social soul
2.13 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 3. Air: Though the honours that Flora and Venus receive
2.14 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 3. Recitative: Oh, save her then
2.15 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 3. Air: Deeds of kindness to display
2.16 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 4. Recitative: The clouds begin to veil the hemisphere
2.17 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 4. Air: Defend her, Heav'n!
2.18 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 5. Recitative: Or lull'd with grief, or rapt her soul to Heav'n
2.19 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 5. Air: Sweet rose and lily, flow'ry form
2.20 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 5. Recitative: Oh, save me, Heav'n, in this my perilous hour!
2.21 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 5. Air: The pilgrim's home, the sick man's he
2.22 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 5. Accompagnato: Forbid it, Heav'n!
2.23 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 5. Recitative: Or say, what right have I
2.24 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 5. Duett: To thee, thou glorious son of worth
2.25 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 6. Recitative: 'Tis night, but night's sweet blessing is denied
2.26 Theodora, HWV 68~Part II. Scene 6. Chorus of Christians: He saw the lovely youth, death's early prey
3.1 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 1. Air: Lord, to Thee each night and day
3.2 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 2. Recitative: But see, the good, the virtuous Didymus!
3.3 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 2. Air: When sunk in anguish and despair
3.4 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 2. Solo and Chorus: Blest be the hand, and blest the pow'r
3.5 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 3. Recitative: Undaunted in the court stands Didymus
3.6 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 3. Accompagnato: O my Irene, Heav'n is kind
3.7 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 3. Recitative: Stay me not, dear friend
3.8 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 3. Duet: Whither, Princess, do you fly
3.9 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 3. Recitative: She's gone, disdaining liberty and life
3.10 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 3. Air: New scenes of joy come crowding on
3.11 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 4. Recitative: Is it a Christian virtue then
3.12 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 5. Recitative: Be that my doom. You may inflict it here
3.13 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 5. Air: Cease, ye slaves, your fruitless pray'r!
3.14 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 5. Recitative: 'Tis kind, my friends, but kinder still
3.15 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 5. Chorus of Heathens: How strange their ends
3.16 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 5. Recitative: On me your frowns, your utmost rage exert
3.17 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 5. Air: Ye ministers of justice, lead them hence
3.18 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 6. Recitative: And must such beauty suffer?
3.19 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 6. Air and Duett: Streams of pleasure ever flowing
3.20 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 7. Recitative: Ere this, their doom is past and they are gone
3.21 Theodora, HWV 68~Part III. Scene 7. Chorus of Christians: O love divine, thou source of fame