Theodora - Glyndebourne Festival Opera cover art

Theodora - Glyndebourne Festival Opera Details

1996 Certificate Ex
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 79 members

The George Frideric Handel tale of a Christian virgin and a Roman bodyguard in 4th Century Antioch re-presented in a modern day setting. Sung in English with English subtitles. The Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment is conducted by William Christie. Read more

Starring Dawn Upshaw, Frode Olsen, Richard Croft, Lorraine Hunt
Director Peter Sellars
Genres Music/Musical

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Theodora - Glyndebourne Festival Opera

The George Frideric Handel tale of a Christian virgin and a Roman bodyguard in 4th Century Antioch re-presented in a modern day setting. Sung in English with English subtitles. The Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment is conducted by William Christie.

Starring Dawn Upshaw, Frode Olsen, Richard Croft, Lorraine Hunt, Orch Of The Age Of Enlightenment, William Christie
Director Peter Sellars
Studio WARNER MUSIC VISION
Run time DVD: 3 hrs 26 mins
Certificate Certificate Ex
Genres Music/Musical
Language DVD: English
Subtitles DVD: English, French, German
Released DVD: 05 Jul 2004
Production year: 1996
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (2) of Theodora - Glyndebourne Festival Opera

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  • "...It is great Handel singing, but then musically and dramatically this production is flawless..."

    • The Guardian
  • "...As one profoundly beautiful aria followed another, the audience sat as if stunned..."

    • Financial Times
  • Most helpful member's review of Theodora - Glyndebourne Festival Opera

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  • 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    possibly the best Handel production ever

    Superb singing and playing - but it is the intense and deeply emotional staging that makes this production so outstanding. A must-see for any who likes Handel, and especially for anyone who thinks baroque opera is dull or uninvolving.

      • Andrew M from London, UK
  • Most recent members' review of Theodora - Glyndebourne Festival Opera

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  • Rated - 3 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Would Handel have approved

    I cannot believe that Handel would have approved of this staging of his oratorio. After all the story is about the Romans of the 4th Century and their opression of the christians. The Roman officer Didymus sings about his sword whilst yielding a machine gun, which is rather ridiculous. Having said that you will realise that I prefer operas etc.to be performed as the composer intended. Otherwise I agree that the performers were excellent, and Handel's music was played perfectly by the orchestra. Here again was an anomaly, why use an orchestra using instruments from Handel's time and modernise the production. Is it solely to reduce costs on costumes and scenery? It would certainly have merited 5 stars had it not been for a 4th century story being brought up to this one, even to the extent of death by lethal injection. Recommend but close your eyes.

      • Robert Smith from Ashby de la Zouch, Leics.
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Rating breakdown

79 Member ratings
  • 100
12
  • 90
6
  • 80
18
  • 70
11
  • 60
11
  • 50
3
  • 40
4
  • 30
4
  • 20
5
  • 10
5