Millenium Orchestra: Handel: Theodora - COMPACT DISCS

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