The Long LineThe Long Line

George Frideric Handel

Theodora, HWV.68

HWV 68 Composed 1750 Vocal

Theodora (HWV 68) is a dramatic oratorio in three acts by George Frideric Handel, set to an English libretto by Thomas Morell. The oratorio concerns the Christian virgin martyr Theodora and Didymus, a Roman soldier, who has secretly converted to Christianity, risks his life to help her, and ultimately shares in her martyrdom. It had its first performance at Covent Garden Theatre on 16 March 1750. Not popular with audiences in Handel's day, Theodora is now recognised as a masterpiece. It is usually given in concert, being an oratorio, but is sometimes staged.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Movements

  1. Overture

Act I

  1. Scene 1, no. 2. Recitative “’tis Dioclesian’s natal day” (Valens)
  2. Scene 1, no. 3. Air “Go, my faithful servant, go” (Valens)
  3. Scene 1, no. 4. Chorus “And draw a blessing down” (Chorus of Heathens)
  4. Scene 1, no. 5. Recitative “Vouchsafe, dread sir” (Didymus, Valens)
  5. Scene 1, no. 6. Air “Racks, gibbets, sword and fire” (Valens)
  6. Scene 1, no. 7. Chorus “For ever thus stands fix’d the doom” (Chorus of Heathens)
  7. Scene 2, no. 8. Recitative “Most cruel edict” (Didymus)
  8. Scene 2, no. 9. Air “The raptur’d soul” (Didymus)
  9. Scene 2, no. 10. Recitative “I know thy virtues” (Septimius)
  10. Scene 2, no. 11. Air “Descend, kind pity” (Septimius)
  11. Scene 3, no. 12. Recitative “Though hard, my friends” (Theodora)
  12. Scene 3, no. 13. Air “Fond flatt’ring world, adieu!” (Theodora)
  13. Scene 3, no. 14. Recitative “Oh bright example of all goodness!” (Irene)
  14. Scene 3, no. 15. Air “Bane of virtue” (Irene)
  15. Scene 3, no. 16. Chorus “Come, mighty Father” (Chorus of Christians)
  16. Scene 4, no. 17. Recitative “Fly, fly, my brethren” (Messenger, Irene)
  17. Scene 4, no. 18. Air “As with rosy steps the morn” (Irene)
  18. Scene 4, no. 19. Chorus “All pow’r in Heav’n above” (Chorus of Christians)
  19. Scene 5, no. 20. Recitative “Mistaken wretches” (Septimius)
  20. Scene 5, no. 21. Air “Dread the fruits of Christian folly” (Septimius)
  21. Scene 5, no. 22. Recitative “Deluded mortal!” (Theodora, Septimius)
  22. Scene 5, no. 23. Accompagnato “Oh, worse than death indeed!” (Theodora)
  23. Scene 5, no. 24. Air “Angels, ever bright and fair” (Theodora)
  24. Scene 6, no. 25. Recitative “Unhappy, happy crew!” (Didymus, Irene)
  25. Scene 6, no. 26. Air “Kind Heav’n, if virtue be thy care” (Didymus)
  26. Scene 7, no. 27. Recitative “Oh love, how great thy pow’r!” (Irene)
  27. Scene 7, no. 28. Chorus “Go, gen’rous pious youth” (Chorus of Christians)

Act II

  1. Scene 1, no. 29. Recitative “Ye men of Antioch” (Valens)
  2. Scene 1, no. 30. Chorus “Queen of summer, queen of love” (Chorus of Heathens)
  3. Scene 1, no. 31. Air “Wide spread his name” (Valens)
  4. Scene 1, no. 32. Recitative “Return, Septimius, to the stubborn maid” (Valens)
  5. Scene 1, no. 33. Chorus “Venus laughing from the skies” (Chorus of Heathens)
  6. Scene 2, no. 34. Symphony
  7. Scene 2, no. 35. Recitative “O thou bright sun!” (Theodora)
  8. Scene 2, no. 36. Air “With darkness deep, as is my woe” (Theodora)
  9. Scene 2, no. 37. Symphony
  10. Scene 2, no. 38. Recitative “But why art thou disquieted, my soul?” (Theodora)
  11. Scene 2, no. 39. Air “O, that I on wings could rise” (Theodora)
  12. Scene 3, no. 40. Recitative “Long have I known thy friendly social soul” (Didymus, Septimius)
  13. Scene 3, no. 41. Air “Though the honours” (Septimius)
  14. Scene 3, no. 42. Recitative “Oh, save her then” (Didymus, Septimius)
  15. Scene 3, no. 43. Air “Deeds of kindness to display” (Didymus)
  16. Scene 4, no. 44. Recitative “The clouds begin to veil” (Irene)
  17. Scene 4, no. 45. Air “Defend her, Heav’n!” (Irene)
  18. Scene 5, no. 46. Recitative “Or lull’d with grief” (Didymus)
  19. Scene 5, no. 47. Air “Sweet rose and lily, flow’ry form" (Didymus)
  20. Scene 5, no. 48. Recitative “Oh save me, Heav’n!” (Theodora, Didymus)
  21. Scene 5, no. 49. Air “The pilgrim’s home” (Theodora)
  22. Scene 5, no. 50. Accompagnato “Forbid it, Heav’n!” (Didymus, Theodora)
  23. Scene 5, no. 51. Duet “To thee, thou glorious son of worth” (Theodora, Didymus)
  24. Scene 6, no. 52. Recitative “’tis night, but night’s sweet blessing is denied” (Irene)
  25. Scene 6, no. 53. Chorus “He saw the lovely youth” (Chorus of Christians)

Act III

  1. Scene 1, no. 54. Air “Lord, to Thee each night and day” (Irene)
  2. Scene 2, no. 55. Recitative “But see, the good, the virtuous Didymus!” (Irene, Theodora)
  3. Scene 2, no. 56. Recitative “When sunk in anguish and despair” (Theodora)
  4. Scene 2, no. 57. Chorus and solo “Blest be the hand” (Chorus of Christians, Theodora)
  5. Scene 3, no. 58. Recitative “Undaunted in the court stands Didymus” (Messenger, Irene, Theodora)
  6. Scene 3, no. 59. Duet “Whither, Princess, do you fly?” (Irene, Theodora)
  7. Scene 3, no. 60. Recitative “She’s gone” (Irene)
  8. Scene 3, no. 61. Recitative “New scenes of joy come crowding on” (Irene)
  9. Scene 4–5, no. 62. Recitative “Is it a Christian virtue then” (Valens, Didymus, Theodora, Septimius)
  10. Scene 5, no. 63. Air “From virtue springs each gen’rous deed” (Septimius)
  11. Scene 5, no. 64. Air “Cease, ye slaves, your fruitless pray’r!” (Valens)
  12. Scene 5, no. 65. Recitative “’Tis kind, my friends” (Didymus, Theodora)
  13. Scene 5, no. 66. Chorus “How strange their ends” (Chorus of Heathens)
  14. Scene 5, no. 67. Recitative “On me your frowns” (Didymus, Theodora, Valens)
  15. Scene 5, no. 68. Air “Ye ministers of justice” (Valens)
  16. Scene 6, no. 69. Recitative “And must such beauty suffer?” (Didymus, Theodora, Septimius)
  17. Scene 6, no. 70. Air and duet “Streams of pleasure ever flowing” (Didymus, Theodora)
  18. Scene 7, no. 71. Recitative “Ere this, their doom is past” (Irene)
  19. Scene 7, no. 72. Chorus “O love divine” (Chorus of Christians)

Elsewhere

← All of the composer’s works