Notes on Handel's Theodora

Theodora (1750) By Georg Fredrich Handel and Thomas Morell, dramatizes the story of Theodora and Didymus, based on The Martyrdom of Theodora and of Didymus (1687) by Robert Boyle and Pierre Corneille's Théodore, Vierge et Martyre. STORY: Valens, The Governor of Antioch, orders his citizens to make sacrificial offerings to Venus and Flora to celebrate the birthday of deceased Roman Emporor Diocles. He orders his soldier, Septimus, to enforce this order. Like her other Christian friends, Theodora does not attend the celebration. As punishment for not doing so, Valens sentences Theodora to serve as a prostitute in the Temple of Venus, and should she refuse this service he directs the temple guards to rape her. Theodora counts among her Christian friends Didymus, who is also a soldier employed by Governor Valens. When Didymus visits Theodora, she asks him to (mercifully) kill her. Instead, Didymus suggests that they cross-dress. After they exchange outfits, she exits the temple in his stead. When Valens learns of Theodora's escape, he modifies her sentence from a life of prostitution in the Temple of Venus, to death and orders the execution of Didymus in her place. Theodora, reunited with Irene and her other Christian friends, attends the execution to exchange her life for Didymus's. This selfless act moves soldier Septimus to recommend clemency for both, but Governor Valens remains unmoved. Valens orders the execution of both Theodora and Didymus. Theodora and Didymus sing of their immortality. In the performance released in 1969 by Vanguard Records, Johannes Somary conducts The English Chamber Orchestra. The cast includes Heather Harper, Maureen Forrester, Alexander Young, Edgar Fleet & John Lawrenson