New Arrivals/Restock

Title: Theodora HWV 60
Artist: Louise Alder
Label: Alpha
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 3701624510254
Genre: Classical Artists
Release Date: 2024-02-23
Number of Discs: 3

Among Handel's seventeen English oratorios, Theodora (1750) is unique. The story is not taken from the Bible, it is set in the Christian era, there is no national triumph and it does not end in joy. At the end, the hero and heroine are dead, the community with which the audience identifies is in mortal danger, and the final chorus is in a minor key. As a musical drama, it is the direct ancestor of Dialogues des Carmelites. At the age of 65, Handel produced a work that was too radical and complex for most of his audience. Today, Theodora is regarded as a benchmark "thinking person's opera", both deeply stimulating and powerfully moving.

Tracks:
1.1 Theodora, oratorio~Overture: Grave - Allegro
1.2 Theodora, oratorio~Overture: Trio
1.3 Theodora, oratorio~Overture: Courante
1.4 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: 'Tis Dioclesian's Natal Day
1.5 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: Go, My Faithful Soldier
1.6 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Chorus: And Draw a Blessing Down
1.7 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: Vouchsafe, Dread Sir
1.8 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: Racks, Gibbets, Sword, ; Fire
1.9 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Chorus: For Ever Thus Stands Fix'd the Doom
1.10 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: Most Cruel Edict!
1.11 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: The Raptur'd Soul Defies the Sword
1.12 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: I Know Thy Virtues
1.13 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: Descend, Kind Pity, Heav'nly Guest
1.14 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: Tho' Hard, My Friends
1.15 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: Fond, Flatt'ring World, Adieu!
1.16 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: O Bright Example of All Goodness!
1.17 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: Bane of Virtue, Nurse of Passions
1.18 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Chorus: Come, Mighty Father, Mighty Lord
1.19 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: Fly, Fly, My Brethren
1.20 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: As With Rosy Steps the Morn Advancing
1.21 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Chorus: All Pow'r in Heav'n Above
1.22 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: Mistaken Wretches!
1.23 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: Dread the Fruits of Christian Folly
1.24 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: Deluded Mortal!
1.25 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative, Accompany'd: O Worse Than Death Indeed!
1.26 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: Angels, Ever Bright, ; Fair
1.27 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: Unhappy Happy Crew!
1.28 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Air: Kind Heav'n, If Virtue Be Thy Care
1.29 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Recitative: O Love! How Great Thy Pow'r!
1.30 Theodora, oratorio~Part I. Chorus: Go, Gen'rous, Pious Youth
2.1 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: Ye Men of Antioch
2.2 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Chorus: Queen of Summer, Queen of Love
2.3 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Air: Wide Spread His Name
2.4 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: Return, Septimius, to the Stubborn Maid
2.5 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Chorus: Venus Laughing From the Skies
2.6 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. (Sinfonia)
2.7 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: O Thou Bright Sun!
2.8 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Air: With Darkness Deep as Is My Woe
2.9 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Symphony of Soft Musick
2.10 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: But Why Art Thou Disquieted, My Soul?
2.11 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Air: O That I On Wings Cou'd Rise
2.12 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: Long Have I Known Thy Friendly Social Soul
2.13 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Air: Tho' the Honours
2.14 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: O Save Her Then, or Give Me Pow'r to Save
2.15 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Air: Deeds of Kindness to Display
2.16 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: The Clouds Begin to Veil the Hemisphere
2.17 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Air: Defend Her, Heav'n
2.18 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: Or Lull'd With Grief
2.19 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Air: Sweet Rose, ; Lily
2.20 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: O Save Me, Heav'n
2.21 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Air: The Pilgrim's Home
2.22 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative, Accompany'd: Forbid It, Heav'n!
2.23 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: Or Say, What Right Have I
2.24 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Duet: To Thee, Thou Glorious Son of Worth
2.25 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Recitative: 'Tis Night
2.26 Theodora, oratorio~Part II. Chorus: He Saw the Lovely Youth
3.1 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Air: Lord to Thee, Each Night, ; Day
3.2 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: But See, the Good, the Virtuous Didymus!
3.3 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Air: When Sunk in Anguish, ; Despair
3.4 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Chous: Blest Be the Hand
3.5 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: Undaunted in the Court Stands Didymus
3.6 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative, Accompany'd: O My Irene, Heav'n Is Kind
3.7 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: Stay Me Not, Dear Friend
3.8 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Duet: Whither, Princess, Do You Fly
3.9 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: She's Gone, Disdaining Liberty ; Life
3.10 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Air: New Scenes of Joy Come Crowding On
3.11 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: Is It a Christian Virture Then
3.12 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: Be That My Doom
3.13 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Air: From Virtue Springs Each Generous Deed
3.14 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Air: Cease, Ye Slaves, Your Fruitless Pray'r
3.15 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: 'Tis Kind, My Friends
3.16 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Chorus: How Strange Their Ends
3.17 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: On Me Your Frowns
3.18 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Air: Ye Ministers of Justice
3.19 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: And Must Such Beauty Suffer!
3.20 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Air: Streams of Pleasure Ever Flowing / Duet: Thither Let Our Hearts Aspire
3.21 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Recitative: Ere This Their Doom Is Past
3.22 Theodora, oratorio~Part III. Chorus: O Love Divine, Thou Source of Fame