Händels 1750 uraufgeführtes Oratorium Theodora erlebte zu seinen Lebzeiten nur fünf mäßig besuchte Aufführungen, für den gerade bei dieser Gattung sonst erfolgsverwöhnten Komponisten ein Desaster. Obwohl er selbst es für sein bestes Oratorium hielt und auch Kenner wie Musikwissenschaftler sich über die hohe Qualität der Musik einig sind, gehört es immer noch zu seinen wenig populären Werken. Ralf Otto hat hier das dreistündige Original deutlich gestrafft und lässt uns so das Drama um die frühchristliche Märtyrerin noch intensiver erleben. Mit Hana Blaiková in der Titelrolle punktet die Aufnahme zusätzlich mit der derzeit denkbar besten Besetzung.
CD 1 | |||
1 | Theodora HWV 68 (Oratorium) (Gesamtaufnahme) | ||
2 | Rezitativ: Tis Diocletian's natal day (1. Teil) | 00:00:54 | |
3 | Chor: And draw a blessing down | 00:02:09 | |
4 | Rezitativ: Vouchsafe, dread Sir, a gracious ear | 00:01:10 | |
5 | Arie: Racks, gibbets, sword and fire | 00:01:53 | |
6 | Chor: For ever thus stands fixed the doom | 00:01:46 | |
7 | Rezitativ: Most cruel edict! | 00:00:36 | |
8 | Arie: The rapture'd soul defies the sword | 00:02:22 | |
9 | Rezitativ: I know thy virtues | 00:00:44 | |
10 | Arie: Descend, kind pity, heav'nly guest | 00:03:11 | |
11 | Rezitativ: Though hard, my friends | 00:00:34 | |
12 | Arie: Fond, flatt'ring would, adieu | 00:04:03 | |
13 | Rezitativ: O bright example of all goodness! | 00:00:40 | |
14 | Chor: Come, mighty Father | 00:02:30 | |
15 | Rezitativ: Fly, fly, my brethren | 00:01:02 | |
16 | Arie: As with rosy steps the morn | 00:02:25 | |
17 | Chor: All pow'r in heav'n above | 00:02:23 | |
18 | Rezitativ: Mistaken wretches! | 00:00:23 | |
19 | Arie: Dread the fruits of Christian folly | 00:01:09 | |
20 | Rezitativ und Accompagnato: Deluded mortal! - Oh, worse than death | 00:01:20 | |
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21 | Arie: Angels, ever bright and fair | 00:01:17 | |
22 | Rezitativ: Unhappy, happy crew! | 00:00:58 | |
23 | Arie: Kind heav'n, if virtue be thy care | 00:02:28 | |
24 | Rezitativ: O love, how great thy pow'r! | 00:00:35 | |
25 | Chor: Go, gen'rous pious youth | 00:04:06 | |
CD 2 | |||
1 | Rezitativ: Ye men of Antioch (2. Teil) | 00:00:38 | |
2 | Chor: Queen of summer, Queen of love | 00:00:49 | |
3 | Arie: Wide spread his name | 00:02:19 | |
4 | Rezitativ: Return, Septimius | 00:00:46 | |
5 | Chor: Venus, laughing from the skies | 00:01:27 | |
6 | Symphony: Largo | 00:01:14 | |
7 | Rezitativ: O thou bright sun! | 00:00:44 | |
8 | Arie: With darkness deep as is my woe | 00:03:34 | |
9 | Symphony: Largo | 00:02:08 | |
10 | Rezitativ: The clouds begin to veil the hemisphere | 00:00:43 | |
11 | Arie: Defend her, heav'n | 00:03:35 | |
12 | Rezitativ: Or lulled with grief | 00:00:31 | |
13 | Arie: Sweet rose and lily, flow'ry form | 00:02:51 | |
14 | Rezitativ: O save me, heav'n | 00:01:34 | |
15 | Arie: The pilgrim's home, the sick man's health | 00:01:28 | |
16 | Accompagnato: Forbid it, heav'n | 00:00:30 | |
17 | Rezitativ: Ah! What is liberty | 00:01:06 | |
18 | Duett: To thee, thou glorious son of worth | 00:04:30 | |
19 | Rezitativ: Tis night, but night's sweet blessing | 00:00:43 | |
20 | Chor: He saw the lovely youth | 00:04:29 | |
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21 | Arie: Lord, to thee, each night and day (3. Teil) | 00:03:08 | |
22 | Rezitativ: But see the good, the virtuous Didymus! | 00:00:51 | |
23 | Solo und Chor: Blest be the hand | 00:03:11 | |
24 | Rezitativ und Accompagnato: Undaunted in the court | 00:02:04 | |
25 | Duett: Wither, Princess, do you fly | 00:01:33 | |
26 | Rezitativ: She's gone! Disdaining liberty and life | 00:00:39 | |
27 | Rezitativ: Is it a Christian virtue, then - Be that my doom | 00:01:13 | |
28 | Arie: From virtue springs each gen'rous deed | 00:03:10 | |
29 | Arie: Cease, ye slaves, your fruitless pray'r | 00:01:06 | |
30 | Rezitativ: Oppose not, Didymus, my just desires | 00:00:38 | |
31 | Chor: How strange their ends | 00:02:47 | |
32 | Rezitativ: On me your frowns | 00:01:51 | |
33 | Air und Duett: Streams of pleasure ever flowing - Thither let our hearts aspire | 00:05:23 | |
34 | Rezitativ: Ere this their doom is past | 00:00:27 | |
35 | Chor: O love divine, thou source of fame | 00:02:38 |