Theodora: G F Handel
About the Event
Witness an historic occasion as Handel's penultimate oratorio is staged in Paris for the first time. Stephen Langridge, William Christie and the talents of Les Arts Florissants bring Handel's great plea for tolerance to the stage.
The tale of Theodora, a Christian persecuted for her beliefs in the Roman era, brought some of Handel's most ravishing music to the world. The sincerity and dramatic intensity of Theodora's suffering and death, the fidelity of her friend Irene and the self‐sacrificing love of the young centurion, Didymus, is worthy of any great tragedy, and the psychological color the music conveys is unparalleled.
Christie conducted the most famous performances of recent times in the 1996 Glyndebourne production, which starred Dawn Upshaw, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and David Daniels. His expertise in baroque repertoire, and in the promotion of emerging talents brings a cast of young stars to this production. Katherine Watson sings the title role, with Philippe Jaroussky as Didymus.
Sung in English with French surtitles
Cast / Production
Conductor, William Christie
Director, Stephen Langridge
Choreography, Philippe Giraudeau
Design, Alison Chitty
Lighting, Fabrice Kebour
Theodora: Katherine Watson
Irene: Stéphanie d’Oustrac
Dydimus: Philippe Jaroussky
Septimus: Kresimir Spicer
Valens: Callum Thorpe
Orchestra and Chorus of Les Arts Florissants
