Theodora

The oratorio "Theodora" premiered on 16 March 1750 at the Covent Garden Theatre and visibly surprised Londoners. Händel had indeed made a complete about-face in his choice of subject matter. The grandiose episodes of the Old Testament, the glorious battles of Solomon, Saul or Judas Maccabeus belong to the past: the young martyr Theodora leads neither a community nor troops into battle. In a work far removed from the grand spectacle of biblical oratorios, Händel invites us to witness a moving personal story. It concerns the beginning of Christianity, motivated by faith and conscience and the heartache they cause.