(c) Paul Marc Mitchell The Monteverdi Choir & The English Baroque Soloists: Salle Gaveau
Paris, Salle Gaveau — Main Hall
About the Event
Gradually giving in to the English public’s growing reluctance toward Italian opera, Handel set out to develop an English‐language repertoire as early as 1718 with his oratorio *Esther*. But his absolute masterpiece in this genre was undoubtedly *Theodora*, which, upon its premiere on March 16, 1750… was a flop. To tell the truth, Handel himself harbored few illusions, aware that the restrained lyricism and somber intensity of his oratorio ran counter to the prevailing taste for glitz and glamour.
Yet the martyrdom of Theodora of Antioch had inspired his most personal music, featuring sublime arias and a chorus of striking perfection. History has done justice to this masterpiece, which now ranks among the composer’s most frequently performed oratorios.
With an exceptional cast led by the stellar Marie Lys and in a work he knows so well, Christophe Rousset will undoubtedly lead the legendary Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists to breathtaking heights.
Cast / Production
Marie Lys, soprano (Theodora)
Alice Coote, mezzo‐soprano (Irene)
Iestyn Davies, countertenor (Didymus)
Hugo Hymas, tenor (Septimius)
John Chest, bass (Valens)
Jonathan Hanley, tenor (Messenger)
The Monteverdi Choir
The English Baroque Soloists
Christophe Rousset, conductor
Address
Salle Gaveau, 45, rue La Boétie, Paris, France — Google Maps
