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Theodora was a favourite with Handel himself among his oratorios; [this] Vanguard account is traditional in style and is directed by an understanding and intelligent Handelian, Johannes Somary. With fresh and sympathetic singing from soloists who are stylistically at home in Handel, the result is most enjoyable. Maureen Forrester in particular sings superbly…the recording has transferred warmly and vividly to CD.
— Penguin Guide
Alto ALC-2005
Number of Units: 2 CDs
EAN: 894640001752
Theodora, one of only two oratorios by Georg Frideric Handel to deal with an explicitly Christian subject, was an unmitigated failure at its premiere – but Handel attributed it to the audience's lack of sympathy for the story, although the oratorio was one of the composer's personal favorites.
Heather Harper and Maureen Forrester head a cast that gives this late Handel work its due, accompanied on modern instruments by the English Chamber Orchestra conducted with spirit by Johannes Somary.
| CD 1 | |||
| 1 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Overture | 03:59 |
| 2 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Valens - Recitative, Aria; Chorus | 05:05 |
| 3 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Didimus, Valens - Recitative; Valens - Aria | 03:10 |
| 4 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Chorus | 02:56 |
| 5 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Didimus - Recitative, Aria | 05:08 |
| 6 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Septimius - Recitative, Aria | 04:46 |
| 7 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Theodora - Recitative, Aria | 05:32 |
| 8 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Irene - Recitative | 00:37 |
| 9 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Chorus | 04:02 |
| 10 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Messenger - Recitative; Irene - Recitative, Aria | 04:39 |
| 11 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Chorus | 02:05 |
| 12 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Septimius, Theodora - Recitative | 01:15 |
| 13 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Theodora - Recitative, Aria | 04:05 |
| 14 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Didimus, Irene - Recitative | 00:49 |
| 15 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Didimus - Aria | 02:34 |
| 16 | Theodora: Oratorio Act I | Irene - Recitative; Chorus | 06:16 |
| 17 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Valens - Recitative Chorus | 01:47 |
| 18 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Valens - Aria | 02:29 |
| 19 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Valens - Recitative; Chorus | 02:28 |
| 20 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Symphony | 01:36 |
| 21 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Theodora - Recitative, Aria | 04:52 |
| 22 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Symphony | 02:26 |
| 23 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Theodora - Recitative, Aria | 04:11 |
| CD 2 | |||
| 1 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Didimus - Recitative; Septimius - Recit, Aria | 05:38 |
| 2 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Didimus, Septimius - Recitative | 00:43 |
| 3 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Irene - Recitative, Aria | 08:12 |
| 4 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Didimus - Recitative, Aria | 03:29 |
| 5 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Theodora , Didimus - Recitative | 01:15 |
| 6 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Theodora - Aria | 01:58 |
| 7 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Didimus, Theodora - Recitative | 02:00 |
| 8 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Theodora, Didimus - Duet | 05:08 |
| 9 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Irene - Recitative | 00:42 |
| 10 | Theodora Oratorio Act II | Chorus | 06:38 |
| 11 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Irene - Aria | 06:30 |
| 12 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Irene, Theodora - Recitative | 00:43 |
| 13 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Chorus | 03:21 |
| 14 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Messenger, Irene, Theodora - Recitative | 01:52 |
| 15 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Irene, Theodora - Duet | 01:43 |
| 16 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Irene - Recitative | 00:33 |
| 17 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Valens, Didimus, Theodora, Septimius - Recit; Septimius - Aria | 07:40 |
| 18 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Valens - Aria | 01:19 |
| 19 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Didimus, Theodora - Recitative | 01:13 |
| 20 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Chorus | 03:31 |
| 21 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Didimus, Theodora, Valens, Septimius - Recitative | 01:44 |
| 22 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Didimus, Theodora - Duet | 05:31 |
| 23 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Irene - Recitative | 00:25 |
| 24 | Theodora Oratorio Act III | Chorus | 03:54 |