Theodora

Music by

George Frideric Handel

Alfried Krupp Saal

Essen, DE

2021

Friday
November
26
20:00

Cast

Theodora  Lisette Oropesa
Irene  Joyce DiDonato
Septimius  Michael Spyres
Valens  John Chest
Didymus  Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian

Conductor

Maxim Emelyanychev

Orchestra

Il pomo d'oro

About

Georg Friedrich Handel himself considered "Theodora" to be one of his most important works. Besides the "Messiah", it is the only oratorio in which the Baroque composer told a Christian story: In ancient Antioch, the Christian Theodora defied the constraints of the Roman occupiers and chose death as a martyr with her Roman lover. The drama of religion and love is characterized by a special musical inwardness. The title role features the soprano Lisette Oropesa - a star at the New York MET for years and a welcome guest in Vienna, Munich and Paris. At her side is the always expressive star mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. She embodies Theodora's friend Irene, who gave Handel several arias of agitated elegance.

Performance History

Lisette has given 5 performances as Theodora.