Handels Theodora

[Musician]

I love this opera.   It is very moving and the singing is excellent

Here is a little clip.   Dawn Upshaw plays the part of Theodora

http://youtu.be/AAVrDbkmY1A

[Verena]

This is one of the most beautiful Handel Oratorios, with some sublime arias and choruses. There are several beautiful recordings, I particularly like the one with William Christie and the one with McCreesh.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Definitely a must-hear Handel piece. One of his greatest triumphs.

[The new erato]

Beautiful work. Just saw it live.

[Opus106]

I love this opera.   It is very moving and the singing is excellent

Here is a little clip.   Dawn Upshaw plays the part of Theodora

http://youtu.be/AAVrDbkmY1A

I'm curious about Handel's vocal and operatic works, and slowly inching my way towards listening to a complete work by one or two arias at a time. I have seen the DVD of the performance you linked to at a local store. And I every time I come across the cover with the astronaut, I automatically (and, perhaps, ignorantly) smirk and move on to the next disc. Even though I'm not an opera buff I'm someone who prefers period costumes in operas (as if the way they sing isn't silly enough, do they have to do that wearing suits? ). But the particular aria in the video was quite moving, for two reasons: one, it's quite obvious what was happening to the singing characters; two, there wasn't much movement on the stage, despite the futuristic set and costumes (Handel's future, anyway). Still, I don't know the libretto and I'm unsure whether a NASA (?) setting would sit well with me in other parts of the work. But despite all that, I thank you for posting that wonderful piece of music.

[Musician]

I'm curious about Handel's vocal and operatic works, and slowly inching my way towards listening to a complete work by one or two arias at a time. I have seen the DVD of the performance you linked to at a local store. And I every time I come across the cover with the astronaut, I automatically (and, perhaps, ignorantly) smirk and move on to the next disc. Even though I'm not an opera buff I'm someone who prefers period costumes in operas (as if the way they sing isn't silly enough, do they have to do that wearing suits? ). But the particular aria in the video was quite moving, for two reasons: one, it's quite obvious what was happening to the singing characters; two, there wasn't much movement on the stage, despite the futuristic set and costumes (Handel's future, anyway). Still, I don't know the libretto and I'm unsure whether a NASA (?) setting would sit well with me in other parts of the work. But despite all that, I thank you for posting that wonderful piece of music.

Perhaps I am biased (being a big Dawn Upshaw fan) but she gives this the best performance I have ever seen.  The acting and the singing that she portrays in some of her scenes are so moving especially in this clip which brings a lump to my throat every time I watch it.  Also a good performance by Lorraine Hunt Lierberson who has sadly passed away.     When I watch this clip I feel privileged to have met Dawn Upshaw in person 

http://youtu.be/x7dEM72UGwk

[Wendell_E]

... every time I come across the cover with the astronaut, I automatically (and, perhaps, ignorantly) smirk and move on to the next disc.... Still, I don't know the libretto and I'm unsure whether a NASA (?) setting would sit well with me in other parts of the work.

If it helps any, and if I'm recalling correctly (and it's been about seven years since I rented the DVD from Netflix), the uniform's not astronaut/NASA, but military/security guard.  And the character is a Roman Imperial guard (or American Imperial guard, in this production).  As I recall, I didn't much like the production, though I'm usually a big fan of Sellars' work, updating and all.  Or maybe it was the piece itself, though again, I usually love Handel's operas and oratorios.

[Musician]

If it helps any, and if I'm recalling correctly (and it's been about seven years since I rented the DVD from Netflix), the uniform's not astronaut/NASA, but military/security guard.  And the character is a Roman Imperial guard (or American Imperial guard, in this production).  As I recall, I didn't much like the production, though I'm usually a big fan of Sellars' work, updating and all.  Or maybe it was the piece itself, though again, I usually love Handel's operas and oratorios.

What did you have against the production?

[Wendell_E]

What did you have against the production?

Well it has been about seven years, so it's hard to remember exactly, but I did find a brief post at my opera board from 18 July 2004:

It's a work I was completely unfamilar with. A bit boring in spots. And depressing (Theodora, a Christian who refuses to worship the Roman gods, is first [O, fate worse than death] sentenced to be a prostitute in Venus's temple. Then when her Roman boyfriend helps her escape, they're both sentenced to death). Very moving at times. I'll have to rent it again from Netflix sometimes. But not anytime soon.

Nigel, who used to post here, posted this about a year ago: 

I've been rewatching the Glyndebourne Theodora. Sellars sets it among religious nutters and I've never really been sure if we're supposed to sympathise with them or if he's actually raising the question of religious nuttery of the Baptist kind - these beatifically smiling people look like they could turn nasty at any moment, as they often, in reality, do.

My own familiarity with such Baptist nutters (I live in Mobile, Alabama) probably also influenced my reaction.

[Opus106]

If it helps any, and if I'm recalling correctly (and it's been about seven years since I rented the DVD from Netflix), the uniform's not astronaut/NASA, but military/security guard.  And the character is a Roman Imperial guard (or American Imperial guard, in this production).

Thanks for letting me know. I'll read up on the story and preview the performance on YouTube.

[Mandryka]

The DVD of Peter Sellar's production with the orange jump suits Guantanamo Bay Style  has a very good scene where some Emperor guy sings a song as if he's drunk to a press conference.  It's wonderful. Here.

http://www.youtube.com//v/83ByBV9NDaE

And the set has some lovely interior design in it -- some big vases. It's typical Sellars -- old opera set in modern America. But somehow he gets good results out of his singers -- David Daniels especially, and of course Hunt Lieberson is fantastic as always. But the other female lead -- Upshaw. I'm sorry I thought she was so over the top it was totally cringeworthy and unwatchable.

Sorry.

Deller is very good, as ususal -- the way he sings the words "a smile" is unforgettable:

http://www.youtube.com/v/ke_26v7aC_E

[Musician]

The DVD of Peter Sellar's production with the orange jump suits Guantanamo Bay Style  has a very good scene where some Emperor guy sings a song as if he's drunk to a press conference.  It's wonderful. Here.

http://www.youtube.com//v/83ByBV9NDaE

And the set has some lovely interior design in it -- some big vases. It's typical Sellars -- old opera set in modern America. But somehow he gets good results out of his singers -- David Daniels especially, and of course Hunt Lieberson is fantastic as always. But the other female lead -- Upshaw. I'm sorry I thought she was so over the top it was totally cringeworthy and unwatchable.
Sorry.

Deller is very good, as ususal -- the way he sings the words "a smile" is unforgettable:

http://www.youtube.com/v/ke_26v7aC_E

I have to disgagree with you about Upshaw.   She was given one of the lead parts and sang as she sang so naturally some may say she is over the top, but isn't that the character?  I however just percieve it as how the character is supposed to be portrayed and to me she played the part with feeling, acting the scenes well.