Haendel
Théodora 

Oratorio in three acts, with a libretto by Thomas Morell, premiered at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1750.

Concert in English, with surtitles in French.

Lea Desandre .  Avery Amereau . Hugh Cutting . Laurence Kilsby . Alex Rosen 

Ensemble Jupiter Choir and Orchestra
Thomas Dunford Conductor and lute

Refusing to sacrifice herself to Venus, the young Christian Theodora is condemned by the Romans to prostitution before dying a martyr’s death. Far from the flamboyant heroism of Jules Caesar, Handel, in one of his last oratorios, displays an emotion of overwhelming depth. Carried along by fervent, elegiac music, Theodora transcends the intimate drama into a veritable spiritual meditation. Thomas Dunford, at the head of his Ensemble Jupiter, handles this work with rare sensitivity.

In the central role, the exceptional mezzo-soprano and tragedian Lea Desandre, joined by the finest voices of the new generation of singers.

The concert was filmed by Futur Antérieur Production at the Chapelle Royale.