Theodora (Handel)
Encyclopedia
Theodora is an 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.
Theodora differs from the former two oratorios because it is a tragedy, ending in the death of the heroine and her converted lover. The music is much more direct than the earlier works, transcending the mediocrity of the libretto (which was true for several of Handel's works) so that the characters and the drama are well-defined.
Thomas Morell (1703–1784) had worked with Handel before on several oratorios. He and Handel were good friends; the composer left the librettist 200 pounds in his will. Morell's source for the libretto was The Martyrdom of Theodora and of Didymus (1687) by Robert Boyle
, the scientist. He also borrowed from Corneille
's Théodore, Vierge et Martyre. Morell arguably improved on Boyle, eliminating the moralising messages and creating a better structure.
Handel finished the oratorio on 31 July 1749, and its premiere was on 16 March 1750. Pityingly, Theodora was a failure and only played three times. There are at least two explanations for this. First, the theme of persecution may have been too "progressive" for Londoners at the time. Secondly,an earthquake that transpired about a week before the premiere had prevented some of the city's nobility from coming. It was the least performed of all his oratorios, being revived only once in 1755.
There are two surviving quotes of Handel about Theodora. Morell quotes Handel as saying "The Jews will not come to it because it is a Christian story; and the ladies will not come because it is a virtuous one." Handel's colleague Burney took note when two musicians asked for free tickets for Messiah and Handel responded "Oh your servant, meine Herren! you are damnable dainty! you would not go to Theodora - there was room enough to dance there, when that was perform"!
Theodora was actually Handel's favorite of his oratorios. The composer himself ranked the final chorus of Act II, "He saw the lovely youth," "far beyond" "Hallelujah" in Messiah
.
It has sometimes been staged as an opera
, most notably in the highly acclaimed 1996 production by Peter Sellars
at Glyndebourne
. This production, conducted by William Christie
, starred Dawn Upshaw
as Theodora, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
as Irene and David Daniels as Didymus. It has been issued on DVD by Warner Music.
The original libretto included an extra scene in which Septimius converted to Christianity himself, however this was never set by Handel, though it was printed.
The second scene in Act 2 was also subject to several revisions by Handel.
Original cast
Didymus, a soldier asks that citizens whose consciences prevent this be spared punishment, which Valens dismisses. Septimius suspects Didymus is a Christian and affirms his own loyalty to the rule but would also like to be tolerant of others.
In the Christian community, Theodora (a princess) and her friend Irene are worshipping when a messenger brings news of Valens' decree. Irene prevents them dispersing and they reaffirm their faith. Theodora speaks out when Septimius comes to arrest them - Theodora is not punished by death (an option she would prefer to her actual punishment of enforced prostitution) and is led away. 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 is in full swing. 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 soldiers to rape her, which excites the soldiers. Theodora is frightened in the brothel, but her mood changes in contemplation of the after life. By persuading Septimius of his Christianity and also love for Theodora, Didymus gets access to her cell with his helmet concealing his identity, offering an escape. Fearing threats to her integrity and wishing to stay true to her faith, Theodora asks Didymus to kill her but he convinces her that God will save them. He gives her his uniform, and thus disguised, Theodora escapes, leaving Didymus in her place.
As the third part opens the Christians celebrate Theodora's safe return. However she is guilty that she endangered Didymus's life to do this. A messenger informs them Didymus has been captured and Valens has changed her punishment to death. Irene protests, but Theodora goes to offer herself in Didymus' place. As Valens sentences Didymus, 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 to death and they sing a duet to their immortality.
Handel uses trumpets, horns, and drums in the Roman scenes and flutes are in the prison scene, but some arias are very lightly accompanied which raises them far above the text.
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
.
, 1995, Dawn Upshaw
(Theodora), Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
(Irene) and David Daniels (Didymus)
Gabrieli Consort and Players (dir. Paul McCreesh
) - Susan Gritton (Theodora), Robin Blaze
(Didymus), Susan Bickley (Irene), Paul Agnew
(Septimius), Neal Davies (Valens)
Les Arts Florissants
(dir. William Christie
) - Sophie Daneman (Theodora), Daniel Taylor (countertenor)
(Didymus), Juliette Galstian (Irene), Richard Croft (Septimius), Nathan Berg (Valens)
U. C. Berkeley Chamber Choir, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (dir. Nicholas McGegan
) - Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
(Theodora), Drew Minter (Didymus), J. Lane (Irene), Jeffrey Thomas (Septimius), David Thomas (Valens)
, Leipzig 1860)
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
in three acts by George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
, set to an English libretto by Thomas Morell
Thomas Morell
Thomas Morell was a librettist, classical scholar, and printer.Morell is important for having written the longest and most detailed surviving account of collaboration with Handel.-Librettos:...
. The oratorio concerns the Christian martyr Theodora
Theodora and Didymus
Saints Theodora and Didymus are Christian saints whose legend is based on a 4th century acta and the word of Saint Ambrose. This story is probably at least partially fictitious...
and her Christian-converted Roman lover, Didymus.
Context, Analysis, and Performance History
Handel wrote Theodora during his last period of composition, his Indian summer. He was sixty-four years old when he began working on it in June 1749. He had written the oratorios Solomon and Susanna the previous year. Theodora would be his second-to-last oratorio.Theodora differs from the former two oratorios because it is a tragedy, ending in the death of the heroine and her converted lover. The music is much more direct than the earlier works, transcending the mediocrity of the libretto (which was true for several of Handel's works) so that the characters and the drama are well-defined.
Thomas Morell (1703–1784) had worked with Handel before on several oratorios. He and Handel were good friends; the composer left the librettist 200 pounds in his will. Morell's source for the libretto was The Martyrdom of Theodora and of Didymus (1687) by Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle FRS was a 17th century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He has been variously described as English, Irish, or Anglo-Irish, his father having come to Ireland from England during the time of the English plantations of...
, the scientist. He also borrowed from Corneille
Pierre Corneille
Pierre Corneille was a French tragedian who was one of the three great seventeenth-century French dramatists, along with Molière and Racine...
's Théodore, Vierge et Martyre. Morell arguably improved on Boyle, eliminating the moralising messages and creating a better structure.
Handel finished the oratorio on 31 July 1749, and its premiere was on 16 March 1750. Pityingly, Theodora was a failure and only played three times. There are at least two explanations for this. First, the theme of persecution may have been too "progressive" for Londoners at the time. Secondly,an earthquake that transpired about a week before the premiere had prevented some of the city's nobility from coming. It was the least performed of all his oratorios, being revived only once in 1755.
There are two surviving quotes of Handel about Theodora. Morell quotes Handel as saying "The Jews will not come to it because it is a Christian story; and the ladies will not come because it is a virtuous one." Handel's colleague Burney took note when two musicians asked for free tickets for Messiah and Handel responded "Oh your servant, meine Herren! you are damnable dainty! you would not go to Theodora - there was room enough to dance there, when that was perform"!
Theodora was actually Handel's favorite of his oratorios. The composer himself ranked the final chorus of Act II, "He saw the lovely youth," "far beyond" "Hallelujah" in Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
.
It has sometimes been staged as an opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, most notably in the highly acclaimed 1996 production by Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars is an American theatre director, noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and contemporary operas and plays...
at Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an English opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England.-History:...
. This production, conducted by William Christie
William Christie (musician)
William Lincoln Christie is an American-born French conductor and harpsichordist. He is noted as a specialist in baroque repertoire and as the founder of the ensemble Les Arts Florissants....
, starred Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw is an American soprano described as "one of the most consequential performers of our time" by the Los Angeles Times. The recipient of several Grammy Awards and Edison Prize-winning discs, Upshaw is at home both in opera and art song, and in repertoire from Baroque to contemporary...
as Theodora, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was an American mezzo-soprano, known for the dramatic power of her vocal artistry as well as her commitment to performing infrequently-heard Baroque era and contemporary works...
as Irene and David Daniels as Didymus. It has been issued on DVD by Warner Music.
The original libretto included an extra scene in which Septimius converted to Christianity himself, however this was never set by Handel, though it was printed.
The second scene in Act 2 was also subject to several revisions by Handel.
Roles
- Theodora, a Christian of noble birth (soprano)
- Didymus, a Roman Officer, converted by and in love with Theodora (originally alto castrato, performed by alto countertenors or contraltos)
- Septimius, another Roman soldier and friend to Didymus (tenor)
- Valens, President of Antioch (bass)
- Irene, a Christian and friend of Theodora (mezzo-soprano)
- Messenger (tenor)
- Chorus of Christians
- Chorus of Heathens
Original cast
- Giulia FrasiGiulia FrasiGiulia Frasi was an Italian operatic soprano who was primarily active in the city of London. A student of educator and historian Charles Burney, Burney described her sound as "a sweet and clear voice, and a smooth and chaste style of singing, which, though cold and unimpassioned, pleased natural...
(Theodora) - Gaetano GuadagniGaetano GuadagniGaetano Guadagni was an Italian mezzo-soprano castrato singer, most famous for singing the role of Orpheus at the premiere of Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice in 1762.- Career :...
(Didymus) - Thomas LoweThomas Lowe (tenor)Thomas Lowe was an English tenor and actor. He began his career at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1740. That same year he portrayed the title role in the world premiere of Thomas Arne's Alfred. He sang principally at Covent Garden until 1760 and became particularly associated with the works of...
(Septimius) - Henry Theodore Reinhold (Valens)
- Caterina GalliCaterina GalliCaterina Galli was an Italian operatic mezzo-soprano. She first rose to fame in England in the 1740s and early 1750s where she was particularly admired for her performances in the works of George Frideric Handel...
(Irene)
Synopsis
The 4th century AD. Valens, the governor of Antioch (occupied by the Romans) issues a decree that in honour of Diocletian's birthday all citizens will offer sacrifice to Roman goddesses Venus and Flora on pain of punishment, and puts Septimius in charge of enforcing this.Didymus, a soldier asks that citizens whose consciences prevent this be spared punishment, which Valens dismisses. Septimius suspects Didymus is a Christian and affirms his own loyalty to the rule but would also like to be tolerant of others.
In the Christian community, Theodora (a princess) and her friend Irene are worshipping when a messenger brings news of Valens' decree. Irene prevents them dispersing and they reaffirm their faith. Theodora speaks out when Septimius comes to arrest them - Theodora is not punished by death (an option she would prefer to her actual punishment of enforced prostitution) and is led away. 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 is in full swing. 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 soldiers to rape her, which excites the soldiers. Theodora is frightened in the brothel, but her mood changes in contemplation of the after life. By persuading Septimius of his Christianity and also love for Theodora, Didymus gets access to her cell with his helmet concealing his identity, offering an escape. Fearing threats to her integrity and wishing to stay true to her faith, Theodora asks Didymus to kill her but he convinces her that God will save them. He gives her his uniform, and thus disguised, Theodora escapes, leaving Didymus in her place.
As the third part opens the Christians celebrate Theodora's safe return. However she is guilty that she endangered Didymus's life to do this. A messenger informs them Didymus has been captured and Valens has changed her punishment to death. Irene protests, but Theodora goes to offer herself in Didymus' place. As Valens sentences Didymus, 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 to death and they sing a duet to their immortality.
Music
The oratorio has a good variety of arias and choruses. Most of the solo pieces are da capo arias. There are three duets, the last being a sublime piece in which Theodora and Didymus die.Handel uses trumpets, horns, and drums in the Roman scenes and flutes are in the prison scene, but some arias are very lightly accompanied which raises them far above the text.
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
Figured bass
Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones, in relation to a bass note...
.
Some noteworthy arias/duets/choruses
- "Descend, kind Pity" (Septimius)
- "Fond, flatt'ring World" (Theodora)
- "As with rosy steps the Morn" (Irene)
- "Wide Spread his Name" (Valens)
- "To Thee, Thou glorious Son" (Theodora and Didymus)
- "He saw the lovely Youth" (Chorus of the Christians)
- "Lord to Thee" (Irene)
- "How strange their ends" (Chorus of the Romans)
- "Streams of Pleasure ever flowing/ Thither let our Hearts aspire" (Didymus, then with Theodora)
- "O Love Divine" (Chorus with Irene)
- "Go, gen'rous, pious Youth" (Chorus)
- "Bane of Virtue (Irene)
Notable recordings
Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra (dir. William Christie - producer Peter SellarsPeter Sellars
Peter Sellars is an American theatre director, noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and contemporary operas and plays...
, 1995, Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw is an American soprano described as "one of the most consequential performers of our time" by the Los Angeles Times. The recipient of several Grammy Awards and Edison Prize-winning discs, Upshaw is at home both in opera and art song, and in repertoire from Baroque to contemporary...
(Theodora), Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was an American mezzo-soprano, known for the dramatic power of her vocal artistry as well as her commitment to performing infrequently-heard Baroque era and contemporary works...
(Irene) and David Daniels (Didymus)
Gabrieli Consort and Players (dir. Paul McCreesh
Paul McCreesh
Paul McCreesh is an English conductor.Paul McCreesh is founder and artistic director of the Gabrieli Consort & Players, with whom he has established himself at the highest level in the period instrument field; he is recognised for his authoritative and innovative performances on the concert...
) - Susan Gritton (Theodora), Robin Blaze
Robin Blaze
- Childhood and education :The son of a professional golfer Peter, Robin Blaze grew up in Shadwell, near Leeds and was educated at Leeds Grammar School, Uppingham School, and Magdalen College, Oxford....
(Didymus), Susan Bickley (Irene), Paul Agnew
Paul Agnew
Paul Agnew is a Scottish operatic tenor.Agnew read music as a Choral Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the Consort of Musicke, the Tallis Scholars, the Sixteen and the Gothic Voices, before embarking on a solo career in the early 1990s.Closely associated with William...
(Septimius), Neal Davies (Valens)
Les Arts Florissants
Les Arts Florissants (ensemble)
Les Arts Florissants is a Baroque musical ensemble in residence at the Théâtre de Caen in Caen, France. The organization was founded by conductor William Christie in 1979. The ensemble derives its name from the 1685 opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The organization consists of a chamber orchestra...
(dir. William Christie
William Christie (musician)
William Lincoln Christie is an American-born French conductor and harpsichordist. He is noted as a specialist in baroque repertoire and as the founder of the ensemble Les Arts Florissants....
) - Sophie Daneman (Theodora), Daniel Taylor (countertenor)
Daniel Taylor (countertenor)
Daniel Taylor is a Canadian countertenor and early music specialist. He completed his undergraduate studies in English, philosophy, and music at the the Faculty of Music of McGill University and his graduate work in religion and music at the Université de Montréal...
(Didymus), Juliette Galstian (Irene), Richard Croft (Septimius), Nathan Berg (Valens)
U. C. Berkeley Chamber Choir, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (dir. Nicholas McGegan
Nicholas McGegan
Nicholas McGegan OBE is a British harpsichordist, flautist, conductor and early music expert....
) - Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was an American mezzo-soprano, known for the dramatic power of her vocal artistry as well as her commitment to performing infrequently-heard Baroque era and contemporary works...
(Theodora), Drew Minter (Didymus), J. Lane (Irene), Jeffrey Thomas (Septimius), David Thomas (Valens)
E-book
Score of Theodora (ed. Friedrich ChrysanderFriedrich Chrysander
Karl Franz Friedrich Chrysander was a German music historian and critic, whose edition of the works of George Frideric Handel and authoritative writings on many other composers established him as a pioneer of 19th-century musicology.Born at Lübtheen, in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Chrysander was the son...
, Leipzig 1860)
External links
- Complete libretto hosted by Stanford University.