Maxim Emelyanychev, Il Pomo d'Oro - George Frideric Handel: Theodora (2022)

This recording of Handel "Theodora features a truly star-studded cast, with Lisette Oropesa in the title role. Joyce DiDonato as Irene, Michael Spyres as Septimius, John Chest as Valens and Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian as Didymus. Following great critical acclaim for recent performances in Europe and DiDonato's performance at the Royal Opera House earlier this year, this new version of the dramatic oratorio is accompanied by Il Pomo d'Oro orchestra and choir, conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.

Performer:
Theodora - Lisette Oropesa
Irene - Joyce DiDonato
Didymus - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian
Septimius - Michael Spyres
Valens - John Chest
Il Pomo d'Oro
Conductor - Maxim Emelyanychev

Tracklist:
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Theodora, HWV 68
CD1:
01. Overture
02. Trio
03. Courante
PART I
Scene 1: Valens, Didymus, Septimius, Heathens
04. Recitative: ’Tis Diocletian’s natal day (Valens)
05. Air: Go, my faithful soldier, go (Valens)
06. Chorus: And draw a blessing down (The heathens)
07. Recitative: Vouchsafe, dread Sir (Didymus · Valens)
08. Air: Racks, gibbets, sword and fire (Valens)
09. Chorus: For ever thus stands fixed the doom (The heathens)
Scene 2: Didymus and Septimius
10. Recitative: Most cruel edict! (Didymus)
11. Air: The raptured soul (Didymus)
12. Recitative: I know thy virtues (Septimius)
13. Air: Descend, kind pity, heav’nly guest (Septimius)
Scene 3: Theodora and Irene with the Christians
14. Recitative: Tho’ hard, my friends (Theodora)
15. Air: Fond, flatt’ring world, adieu! (Theodora)
16. Recitative: O bright example of all goodness! (Irene)
17. Air: Bane of virtue (Irene)
18. Chorus: Come, mighty Father (The Christians)
Scene 4: Messenger, Irene, Christians
19. Recitative: Fly, fly, my brethren (Messenger · Irene)
20. Air: As with rosy steps the morn (Irene)
21. Chorus: All pow’r in Heav’n above (The Christians)
Scene 5: Enter Septimius
22. Recitative: Mistaken wretches! (Septimius)
23. Air: Dread the fruits of Christian folly (Septimius)
24. Recitative: Deluded mortal! (Theodora · Septimius)
25. Accompagnato: O, worse than death indeed! (Theodora)
26. Air: Angels, ever bright and fair (Theodora)
Scene 6: Enter Didymus
27. Recitative: Unhappy, happy crew! (Didymus · Irene)
28. Air: Kind Heav’n, if virtue be thy care (Didymus)
29. Recitative: O love, how great thy pow’r! (Irene)
30. Chorus: Go, gen’rous, pious youth (The Christians)
CD2:
PART II
Scene 1: Valens, Septimius and Heathens
01. Recitative: Ye men of Antioch (Valens)
02. Chorus: Queen of summer, queen of love (The heathens)
03. Air: Wide spread his name (Valens)
04. Recitative: Return, Septimius, to the stubborn maid (Valens)
05. Chorus: Venus, laughing from the skies (The heathens)
Scene 2: Theodora, in her place of confinement
06. Symphony
07. Recitative: O thou bright sun! (Theodora)
08. Air: With darkness deep as is my woe (Theodora)
09. Symphony
10. Recitative: But why art thou disquieted, my soul! (Theodora)
11. Air: Oh, that I on wings could rise (Theodora)
Scene 3: Didymus and Septimius
12. Recitative: Long have I known (Didymus · Septimius)
13. Air: Tho’ the honours (Septimius)
14. Recitative: Oh, save her then (Didymus · Septimius)
15. Air: Deeds of kindness to display (Didymus)
Scene 4: Irene with the Christians
16. Recitative: The clouds begin to veil (Irene)
17. Air: Defend her, Heav’n (Irene)
Scene 5: Theodora’s place of confinement;
Didymus at a distance, the vizor of his helmet closed
18. Recitative: Or lulled with grief (Didymus)
19. Air: Sweet rose and lily (Didymus)
20. Recitative: Oh, save me, Heav’n (Theodora · Didymus)
21. Air: The pilgrim’s home (Theodora)
22. Accompagnato: Forbid it, Heav’n! (Didymus)
23. Recitative: Or say, what right have I to take (Didymus · Theodora)
24. Duet: To thee, thou glorious son of worth (Theodora · Didymus)
Scene 6: Irene with the Christians
25. Recitative: ’Tis night (Irene)
26. Chorus: He saw the lovely youth (The Christians)
CD3:
PART III
Scene 1: Irene with the Christians
01. Air: Lord, to thee each night and day (Irene)
Scene 2: Enter Theodora, in the habit of Didymus
02. Recitative: But see the good, the virtuous Didymus! (Irene · Theodora)
03. Air: When sunk in anguish and despair (Theodora)
04. Theodora and Chorus: Blest be the hand, and blest the pow’r (Theodora · the Christians)
Scene 3: Messenger, Irene, Theodora
05. Recitative: Undaunted in the Court (Messenger · Irene)
06 Accompagnato: O my Irene (Theodora)
07. Recitative: Stay me not, dear friend (Theodora)
08. Duet: Whither, Princess, do you fly (Irene · Theodora)
09. Recitative: She’s gone (Irene)
10. Air: New scenes of joy come crowding on (Irene)
Scene 4: Valens, Didymus, Septimius, and Heathens
11. Recitative: Is it a Christian virtue (Valens · Didymus)
Scene 5: Enter Theodora
12. Recitative: Be that my doom (Theodora · Septimius)
13. Air: From Virtue springs each gen’rous deed (Septimius)
14. Air: Cease, ye slaves, your fruitless pray’r (Valens)
15. Recitative: ’Tis kind, my friends (Didymus · Theodora)
16. Chorus: How strange their ends and yet how glorious (The heathens)
17. Recitative: On me your frowns (Didymus · Theodora · Valens)
18. Air: Ye ministers of justice (Valens)
Scene 6: Didymus, Theodora, Septimius
19. Recitative: And must such beauty suffer! (Didymus · Theodora · Septimius)
20. Air and Duet: Streams of pleasure ever flowing (Didymus · Theodora)
Scene 7: Irene with the Christians
21. Recitative: Ere this, their doom is past (Irene)
22. Chorus: O love divine (The Christians)