Sunday 16 August 2009

Handel considered Theodora to be one of his best oratorios, and one of his best works. It was not very successful in 1750: "Ye Jews won't come, 'cos it's a Christian theme. Ye women won't come, since it's about a virtuous woman" Handel is reported to have said, philosophically. 250 years later, I spent a highly enjoyable Sunday evening listening to Theodora (being neither Jewish, nor female). The work has an attractive unity and flows convincingly from melodic aria to chorus to recitative. Handel was right: it is one of his best works (though pretty well unknown since 1749 when he wrote it).

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