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Studio recordings of opera and oratorio are not so common these days, and the Erato label took a chance with this one, bringing in big-name singers, recording during the COVID-19 pandemic with all its threats of disruptions, and backing a major tour to go with it. As it happens, the gamble paid off as the album rose onto classical best-seller charts in the fall of 2022. It is superb. Despite its initial failure (probably London audiences weren't familiar with the story of the titular martyr), the oratorio Theodora, HWV 68, has come to be recognized as one of Handel's late masterpieces, and it was one of the composer's favorites among his works. Even more than Handel's other oratorios, this one has operatic qualities and, in fact, has been staged as an opera; there are long stretches where the chorus is silent. It stands or falls on the singers, although the small chorus of the historical-instrument group Il Pomo d'Oro is very fine here, with excellent renderings of the double pagans-and-Christian roles of the chorus. They are a remarkable group. The star is mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato as Theodora's friend Irene, and she is surrounded by, and nicely counterpointed to, younger singers who are just hitting their strides. Soprano Lisette Oropesa is a standout. She is known for 19th century roles rather than Handel, but her judicious and beautifully controlled application of vibrato, and her presence in general, are arresting. Theodora's partner in Christian crime, Didymus, is the little-heralded but smooth countertenor Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian and tenor Michael Spyres as the friend of the hard man Septimus is also very strong, as is the appropriately named John Chest as Valens. Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev keeps the energy level high through three hours of action, contributes an unusually active harpsichord continuo, and draws especially crisp performances from Il Pomo d'Oro. A standout Handel oratorio recording.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - John Chest, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - John Chest, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - John Chest, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - John Chest, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Michael Spyres, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Michael Spyres, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Michael Spyres, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Michael Spyres, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Michael Spyres, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Michael Spyres, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - John Chest, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - John Chest, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - John Chest, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Michael Spyres, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Michael Spyres, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Michael Spyres, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Thomas Morell, Poet - Lisette Oropesa, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Il Pomo d'Oro, Orchestra - Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor, MainArtist - Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Counter-Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
Album review
Studio recordings of opera and oratorio are not so common these days, and the Erato label took a chance with this one, bringing in big-name singers, recording during the COVID-19 pandemic with all its threats of disruptions, and backing a major tour to go with it. As it happens, the gamble paid off as the album rose onto classical best-seller charts in the fall of 2022. It is superb. Despite its initial failure (probably London audiences weren't familiar with the story of the titular martyr), the oratorio Theodora, HWV 68, has come to be recognized as one of Handel's late masterpieces, and it was one of the composer's favorites among his works. Even more than Handel's other oratorios, this one has operatic qualities and, in fact, has been staged as an opera; there are long stretches where the chorus is silent. It stands or falls on the singers, although the small chorus of the historical-instrument group Il Pomo d'Oro is very fine here, with excellent renderings of the double pagans-and-Christian roles of the chorus. They are a remarkable group. The star is mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato as Theodora's friend Irene, and she is surrounded by, and nicely counterpointed to, younger singers who are just hitting their strides. Soprano Lisette Oropesa is a standout. She is known for 19th century roles rather than Handel, but her judicious and beautifully controlled application of vibrato, and her presence in general, are arresting. Theodora's partner in Christian crime, Didymus, is the little-heralded but smooth countertenor Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian and tenor Michael Spyres as the friend of the hard man Septimus is also very strong, as is the appropriately named John Chest as Valens. Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev keeps the energy level high through three hours of action, contributes an unusually active harpsichord continuo, and draws especially crisp performances from Il Pomo d'Oro. A standout Handel oratorio recording.
© James Manheim /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 78 track(s)
- Total length: 02:58:08
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Lisette Oropesa Joyce DiDonato Michael Spyres Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian Il pomo d’oro Maxim Emelyanychev
- Composer: Georg Friedrich Händel
- Label: Warner Classics
- Genre: Classical
A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2022 Parlophone Records Limited
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