Handel: Theodora - Theater an der Wien (2023) [Blu-ray]

Initially a failure when first performed in London in 1750, Theodora has proved to be one of Handel’s most enduring and compassionate masterpieces – a work of introspective depth about the redemptive power of tolerance. Theodora’s determination to die in defence of her religious freedom offers her the promise of eternal salvation. In this acclaimed Viennese production, award-winning stage director Stefan Herheim contrasts Theodora’s self-sacrifice with the lack of spiritual direction of our own times. La Folia Barockorchester and the Arnold Schoenberg Chor are conducted by the acclaimed countertenor and Handel specialist Bejun Mehta.

As Irene, Julie Boulianne has a ‘full and beautifully timbred voice’… ‘Jacquelyn Wagner was excellent as Theodora, whose otherworldliness and view of the afterlife she portrayed as convincingly as she sang’… ‘The coloratura-rich role of Valen was in good hands with the Figaro-proven bass-baritone Evan Hughes. He impressed with his stage presence and directorial sense of comedy’ (Bachtrack).

The conductor is Bejun Mehta, himself a famous countertenor with an international reputation.

Stage director Stefan Herheim is one of Europe’s leading opera stage directors and has been named Director of the Year three times in the critics’ survey in Opernwelt magazine.

‘Vocally the most remarkable performance came from a young countertenor Christopher Lowrey who was stunningly superb and gave a masterclass in how to make a formal musical language have tremendous emotional and dramatic power’ – operareviews.org

‘The balance between pit and stage was excellent and there was great rhythmic dynamism in the performance, which helped drive the drama forward’ – operareviews.org

Filming date: 23 and 25 October 2023
Filming venue: MuseumsQuartier / Hall E, Vienna, Austria