Theodora

Synopsis

A highlight of the Handel commemorative year (250th anniversary of death) was the Salzburg Festival's first-ever staging of Handel's oratorio "Theodora" of 1750. Christof Loy, who was voted "director of the year" three times by the prestigious journal "Opernwelt", created a production that is, in his words, "almost as an installation", and groups his characters around the remains of a gigantic organ in situations that echo the libretto's tragic dilemma of love, faith and virtue. His concept is supported by the vigorous Ivor Bolton and the Freiburger Barockorchester playing on original instruments, the Salzburger Bachchor, and, above all, by a fine cast. It is led by the luminous Christine Schäfer as a Theodora who "perfectly encapsulates the heroine's combination of fragility and defiance" (AFP), and countertenor Bejun Mehta, who "excels as Theodora's lover Didymus" (The New York Times).

Additional Info

• No: A04001521
• Composer: Georg Friedrich Händel
• Conductor: Ivor Bolton
• Orchestra: FREIBURGER BAROCKORCHESTER / Chorus: Salzburger Bachchor
• Artists: Christine Schäfer, Bejun Mehta, Johannes Martin Kränzle, Joseph Kaiser, Bernarda Fink
• Production year: 2009
• Run time: 03:08:00
• Director: Hannes Rossacher / Christof Loy
• Producers: UNITEL in cooperation with Salzburg Festival and CLASSICA
• Format: HDTV