GEORG FRIEDRICH HAENDEL (1685-1759)
2023 programming
Oratorio
Saturday 8 july – 21h00Cour des hospices
Theodora was first performed on 16 March 1750 at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, based on a libretto by Thomas Morell. The oratorio is set in Antioch, Syria, during the persecution of Christians in the final years of the Roman Empire, under the reign of Diocletian (284). Theodora, a Christian of noble origin, refused to accept the invitation of Valens, the Roman governor, to celebrate the emperor following the pagan tradition. Furious, Valens condemns her to the dun-geon and death. Didymus, a Roman officer converted to Christianity by Theodora and in love with her, tries to take her place in the dungeon by disguising himself. But the ruse is discovered. Didymus is in turn sen-tenced to death. Theodora decides to join him in prison to face death with the one she loves. According to the librettist, Handel, then 65, considered Theodora his favourite oratorio. The dramatic power of expression in the composition, usually in minor key, is admirable. As in Theodora’s despair in the aria ‘With darkeness deep as my woe, hide me, ye shades of night’, introduced by the famous largo, or in Irene’s appealing aria ‘Defend her, Heaven, let angels spread’.
MILLENIUM ORCHESTRA
CHŒUR DE CHAMBRE DE NAMUR
Conductor : LEONARDO GARCÍA ALARCÓN
- Theodora Sophie Junker
- Irène Dara Savinova
- Didymus Christopher Lowrey
- Septimius Matthew Newlin
- Valens Andreas Wolf
Booking
Theodora
Saturday 8 july – 21h00Cour des hospices *
* fold up to Basilique Notre-Dame in case of unfavorable weather
Price A
- Series 1° 2° 3° 4°
- Tariff 131 € 73 € 36 € 15 €
Map Cour des Hospices Map Basilique Notre-Dame
The reduced price is reserved to : students, unemployed persons, handicapped persons or group of 10 persons, on providing corresponding documents. Contact us
15,00€ – 131,00€
CAUTION IMPORTANT : SEE THE CONDITIONS OF BOOKING
– Only the 1°, 2° and 3° series are numbered.
– The reduced prices (per concert) are available in the following cases : for persons attending every concert in the same week-end and groups of ten
– We regret that tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.
– In case of bad weather some concerts take place in the basilica Notre-Dame (12th C.). In the Basilica the 4rd series (lateral seats) have good audition but have not direct view. A video retransmission is assured (image only)
– The doors are closed immediately after the concerts begining at 9 PM
– The program is given with reserve of modifications.