Handel’s Theodora is probably performed more nowadays as a staged opera than as an oratorio.  The same is true for several of his other English language oratorios; notably Semele.  It was in that format I was introduced to Theodora by Peter Sellar’s famous production at Glyndebourne, which I loved, but I had never sat down and listened to the piece until getting my hands on a recent recording on the Alpha label.  Bottom line, I think it’s some of Handel’s best music.  Maybe the second part isn’t as inspired as the first and third  but it abounds in truly great airs and the libretto is really tight; dramatic and carefully constructed.

On the recording the title role is sung by Louise Alder and I think she’s everything one could want in a Handel soprano.  Her voice is beautiful, expressive and she ornaments with taste.  She can also be dramatic where called for.  Her “Angels, Ever Bright and Fair” is just gorgeous.

Anna Stéphany has the unenviable task of singing Irene, where comparisons with Lorraine Hunt are unavoidable.  She stands up pretty well.  Her tone is a little more covered and her vibrato a but more prominent than Hunt but she still sounds terrific.  And she has a proper trill.  “As With Rosy Steps the Morn” is everything one could ask for and “Lord to Thee Each Night and Day” is intensely moving.

Tim Mead’s Didymus is rather good too.  It’s quite a bright voice; more Philippe Jaroussky than Andreas Scholl, which is fine.  he has great control and is expressive.  “The Raptur’d Soul Defies the Sword” and “Streams of Pleasure Ever Flowing” are very beautiful and the final duet with Alder is most moving.

Stuart Jackson, as Septimius, is very precise with really excellent control over his runs and a clean, pleasing tenor timbre.  “Dread the Fruits of Christian Folly” is crisp and “From Virtue Springs Each Generous Deed” has a real spring to it.

Adam Plachetka is the best Valens I’ve heard.  He avoids becoming a cardboard cut out villain and comes across as a man who believes in what he is doing; however much the whole tenor of the piece invites the audience to reject that.  He is perhaps at his best in the duet with Didymus “Is It A Christian Virtue Then?”.

The orchestra is the thirty or so instrumentalists of the period instrument ensemble Arcangelo led from the harpsichord by Jonathan Cohen.  Arcangelo also contribute the twenty seven strong chorus.  The band is excellent with some lively and beautiful playing.  A really good example is to be found in the way orchestra and Stuart Jackson work off each other in “From Virtue Springs Each Generous Deed”.  And for quite a large band and choir they do manage a sort of chamber music vibe.

There’s really good documentation for this release including full texts though, frankly, they are superfluous as the diction of the entire cast and chorus is impeccable.  The recording was made in 2023 at St Augustine’s Church, Kilburn, London and it has that sort of acoustic  Quality wise, the standard CD quality version (my copy) is good but not outstanding but there is a higher res version.

Theodora is due for release on 23rd February 2024 as a 3 CD set or in MP3 and FLAC (CD quality and 96kHz/24 bit) formats and I highly recommend it.

Catalogue information: Alpha Records ALPHA1025