Теодора: Гендельдің операсы немесе ораториясы

1750 oratorio/opera by Handel

Theodora (HWV 68) is a dramatic oratorio in three acts by George Frideric Handel, set to an English libretto by Thomas Morell. The oratorio concerns the Christian martyr Theodora and her Christian converted Roman lover, Didymus. It had its first performance at Covent Garden Theatre on 16 March 1750. Not popular with audiences in Handel's day, Theodora is now recognised as a masterpiece. It is usually given in concert, being an oratorio, but is sometimes staged.

The 4th century AD. Valens, the Roman governor of Antioch, issues a decree that in honour of Diocletian's birthday all citizens will offer sacrifice to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and Flora, a fertility goddess of the spring, on pain of death, and puts Septimius in charge of enforcing this. Didymus, a soldier secretly converted to Christianity, asks that citizens whose consciences prevent them making sacrifices to idols be spared punishment, which Valens dismisses. Septimius suspects Didymus is a Christian and affirms his own loyalty to the law although he pities those who will be condemned to die by the decree and wishes he could be allowed to extend mercy to them. Theodora, a nobly born Christian and her friend Irene are worshipping with their fellow believers in private rather than joining in the festival for the emperor's birthday when a messenger brings news of Valens' decree. Septimius comes to arrest them – Theodora expects to be put to death but is informed that instead she has been sentenced to serve as a prostitute in the temple of Venus. Theodora would much have preferred to die, but is led away to the temple. Irene informs Didymus who goes in the hope of either rescuing her or dying with her. The first act closes with a chorus of Christians praying for the mission's success.

At the start of the second act the festival in honour of the emperor and the goddesses is being enjoyed by the pagans. Valens sends Septimius to tell Theodora that if she doesn't join in with the festival by the end of the day, he will send his guards to rape her. The crowd expresses their satisfaction at this sentence. In the temple of Venus which serves as a brothel, Theodora is frightened, but her mood changes as she contemplates the afterlife. Didymus confesses to his friend and superior officer Septimius that he is a Christian and appeals to the other man's sense of decency. Septimius allows Didymus to visit Theodora. At first Theodora appeals to Didymus to kill her and put an end to her suffering, but instead Didymus persuades her to conceal her identity by putting on his helmet and his uniform and escaping, leaving Didymus in her place. Back at their hideout, Irene and the Christians recall the miracle of The Widow of Nain and hope that, should the lovers die, they will find a new life in heaven.

As the third part opens the Christians celebrate Theodora's safe return. However she feels guilty that she endangered Didymus's life in order to save her own. A messenger informs them Didymus has been captured and that Valens has changed Theodora's punishment to death. Theodora goes to offer herself in Didymus' place, despite the protests of her faithful friend Irene. As Valens sentences Didymus to be executed, Theodora enters demanding that she die and Didymus be saved. Both Didymus and Theodora argue that they should die in place of the other. Septimius is moved by this, and pleads for clemency. Valens, however, condemns both Didymus and Theodora to death and they sing a duet to their immortality.

The oratorio is scored for 2 sections of violins, violas, cellos, double basses, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, harpsichord, and organ. A harpsichord and violoncello play the continuo. Handel's music gives the choruses of Roman pagans, presented in the libretto as evil people gloating over the torture of Christians, "immense verve and charm". and the execution of each lead character was set "on a gurney in a Texas military hospital awaiting execution" by lethal injection. Lorraine Hunt Lieberson sang Irene. A DVD of the production was available from the Glyndebourne online shop. In 2022, the Royal Opera House in London staged its first production since the 1750 premiere. Directed by Katie Mitchell, the production was set in "an alternative modern day reality".

+YearCast: Theodora,Didymus,Irene,Septimius,ValensConductor,orchestraand chorusLabel1969Heather Harper,Maureen Forrester,Maureen Lehane,Alexander Young,John LawrensonJohannes Somary,English Chamber Orchestra,Amor Artis ChoraleVanguard Classics Cat: B0000254IV1990Roberta Alexander,Jochen Kowalski,Jard van Nes,Hans Peter Blochwitz,Anton ScharingerNikolaus Harnoncourt,Concentus Musicus Wien,Arnold Schoenberg ChorTeldec Das Alte Werk Cat: 2564 69056 41992Lorraine Hunt Lieberson,Drew Minter,Jennifer Lane,Jeffrey Thomas,David ThomasNicholas McGegan,Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra,U. C. Berkeley Chamber ChorusHarmonia Mundi Cat: HMU907060.621996Dawn Upshaw,David Daniels,Lorraine Hunt Lieberson,Richard Croft,Frode OlsenWilliam Christie,Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment,Glyndebourne Festival ChorusGlyndebourne CD2000Susan Gritton,Robin Blaze,Susan Bickley,Paul Agnew,Neal DaviesPaul McCreesh,Gabrieli Players,Gabrieli ConsortArchivCat: 0289 469 06122003Sophie Daneman,David Taylor,Juliette Galstian,Richard Croft,Nathan BergWilliam Christie,Les Arts Florissants,Les Arts FlorissantsEratoCat: 08092743181212012Christina Wieland,Franz Vitzthum,Diana Schmid,Knut Schoch,Klaus MertensJoachim Carlos Martini,Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra,Junge KantoreiNaxosCat: 8.572700 022021Lisette Oropesa,Paul Antoine Bénos Djian,Joyce Di Donato,Michael Spyres,John CestMaxim Emelyanychev,Il Pomo D'oro,EratoCat. : 5419717791