Handel - Theodora (Blu-ray) | Opus Arte OABD7313D

Handel - Theodora (Blu-ray)

£30.35

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Label: Opus Arte

Cat No: OABD7313D

Format: Blu-ray

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Opera

Release Date: 26th May 2023

Contents

Artists

Julia Bullock
Joyce DiDonato
Jakub Jozef Orlinski
Ed Lyon
Gyula Orendt
Thando Mjandana
Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Conductor

Harry Bicket

Works

Handel, George Frideric

Theodora, HWV68

Artists

Julia Bullock
Joyce DiDonato
Jakub Jozef Orlinski
Ed Lyon
Gyula Orendt
Thando Mjandana
Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Conductor

Harry Bicket

About

Handel’s greatest oratorio returns to Covent Garden in a brand-new production with an all-star cast.

Julia Bullock, Joyce DiDonato and Jakub Józef Orliński star in Katie Mitchell’s thrilling new production of Handel’s Theodora in an alternative modern-day reality. Theodora, a religious fundamentalist, plots for the resistance against the Roman occupation. But when her secret plan to destroy the Roman embassy is discovered, she learns the true brutality of her oppressors.

Not heard in Covent Garden since its 1750 premiere and sung in the original English libretto by Thomas Morell, Theodora is a tour de force for soloists and chorus alike, with ensembles, duets and arias of profound depth and beauty. This new interpretation, conducted by Baroque specialist Harry Bicket, shines a new, feminist light on the story.

*** This production depicts explicit violence and sexual harassment, scenes of sexual violence and sexual exploitation, and contains themes of terrorism. ***

“... bombs, a brothel and a brilliant cast ... Katie Mitchell’s modern-day staging of Handel’s oratorio is probing...” – The Guardian ★★★★

“Katie Mitchell’s imaginative vision is blessed with luxury casting” – OperaWire

“Joyce DiDonato brings both humanity and musical sincerity to the foreground, through her varied tone colour, sensitive ornamentation and because her musical authority is such that we are drawn, no compelled, to listen to the music.” – Opera Today

“God, love, sex, death - and terrorism... Katie Mitchell's staging of a late Handel oratorio works well” – The Arts Desk

“Katie Mitchell’s production is radical... with some stirring theatrical moments” – Evening Standard ★★★★

“... superbly realised, and like everything I’ve seen from Mitchell it’s inhabited by some of the most convincing characters you’re likely to see on an operatic stage” – The Spectator

“Harry Bicket is a fluent conductor, making the most of the ample sound of the [Royal] Opera House Orchestra” – The Telegraph ★★★★

Cast:
- Theodora: Julia Bullock
- Irene: Joyce DiDonato
- Didymus: Jakub Józef Orliński
- Septimius: Ed Lyon
- Valens: Gyula Orendt
- Marcus: Thando Mjandana

Director: Katie Mitchell
Set designer: Chloe Lamford
Costume designer: Sussie Juhlin-Wallén
Lighting designer: James Farncombe
Movement director: Sarita Piotrowski

Duration: approx. 189 minutes
Audio: LPCM 2.0 + DTS-HD Master Audio Surround
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, JP, KO
FSK: 12

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