Handel
Theodora in Concert
Sydney Opera House8 & 9 February 2024
Handel
Theodora in Concert
Sydney Opera House8 & 9 February 2024
Choose a date to see seats and prices
See All Events2024
February
08 Feb 2024
09 Feb 2024
Venue
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney
Language
Performed in English with surtitles.
Running Time
Approximately 3 hours, including one interval.
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Opera Australia and Pinchgut Opera present Theodora
How strange their ends, and yet how glorious!
The Messiah might be Handel’s most famous work, but the composer himself held Theodora in higher esteem.
Judge for yourself which oratorio deserves the title of Handel’s greatest masterpiece when Pinchgut Opera and Opera Australia join forces to present Theodora in concert.
A series of sublime arias and powerful choruses, Theodora is a heavenly musical experience. Set in ancient Rome, it follows the plight of a courageous woman and bold young soldier who risk everything in the face of a tyrannical power.
This milestone collaboration with Pinchgut Opera is the first time the acclaimed Baroque specialists have performed in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.
It’s a wonderful chance to see the Orchestra of the Antipodes in their element, performing on period instruments, with Pinchgut’s charismatic director Erin Helyard leading from the harpsichord, and Cantillation as the chorus. Pinchgut has assembled a cast of early music specialists, including countertenor Christopher Lowrey who reprises his acclaimed performance of Didymus which he first sang in Pinchgut’s fully staged production of Theodora in December 2016.
The music
Cast & Creative
Theodora
Didymus
Irene
Septimius
Valens
Orchestra of Antipodes
Cantillation
Synopsis
Act 1
Valens, the Roman governor, proclaims that in celebration of the Emperor birthday all cititzens must make sacrifice to Jove and join in a feast to the Emperor’s honour. Those who refuse to participate will be punished or executed. He charges Septimius with carrying out his orders. Didymus, a Roman soldier, asks that those whose conscience forbids them from particpating be protected from punishment.
But Valens is unbending and questions the soldier’s loyalty to Rome. Didymus turns now to Septimius with the same argument. Septimius suspects that Didymus is secretly a Christian, and admits that he too would prefer to show mercy to those who refuse to celebrate. However, he is a loyal Roman and will carry out his orders.
In the Christian community, Theodora and Irene are praying. A messenger arrives and warns them of Valens’s commands. But Irene leads the community in a reaffirmation of their faith. Septimius arrives and warns them of the punishment they face – a punishment Theodora is happy to embrace. However, rather than have her executed Septimius takes her away to a brothel where she will be prostituted to the Roman soldiers.
Didymus arrives too late to save her, and sets out to release her. The chorus pray to heaven for his success.
Act II
The Romans proceed with their celebrations. Valens sends Septimius to Theodora with an offer of clemency if she makes a sacrifice before sunset.
In her prison cell, Theodora waits fearfully for her fate. But contemplation of the heaven that awaits her after death cheers her spirits. Didymus persuades Septimius to let him enter Theodora’s cell and rescue her, as Irene prays that God will protect Theodora.
Didymus enters the cell and finds Theodora asleep. She wakes with a start fearing the worse, but Didymus reveals his identity and calms her. She begs him to kill her but he cannot. Instead he dresses her in his uniform and, disguised as a soldier, Theodora escapes the cell leaving Didymus in her place.
The Christians maintian a vigil, led by Irene.
Act III
Still praying for Theodora’s release, Irene is surprised to see her companion arrive dressed in Didymus’s clothes. The Christians celebrate her safe return, though Theodora herself is concerned for the safety of Didymus.
A messenger arrives to tell them that Didymus has been sentenced to death, and that Theodora is now too condemned to die if she is caught. Despite Irene’s efforts to restrain her, Theodora rushes to the Roman court to offer herself in place of Didymus.
Valens condemns Didymus to death as Theodora arrives to save him. Both offer to die in place of the other, but Valens will not let them bargain with their own fates and sends both of them to execution. As they blissfully enter immortality together the Christian community join in a hymn of praise.
Opera Australia and Pinchgut Opera present Theodora