CD1
01. A0 Overture [0:06:28.23]
02. A1-1 Tis Dioclesian's natal Day [0:00:25.72]
03. A1-2 Go my faithful Soldier, go [0:01:54.00]
04. A1-3 And draw a Blessing down [0:01:58.53]
05. A1-4 Vouchsafe, dread Sir, a gracious Ear [0:00:51.05]
06. A1-5 Racks, Gibbets, Sword, & Fire [0:03:21.45]
07. A1-6 For ever thus stands fix'd the Doom [0:01:53.05]
08. A1-7 Most cruel Edict [0:00:30.32]
09. A1-8 The raptur'd Soul defies teh Sword [0:08:03.63]
10. A1-9 I know thy Virtues [0:00:37.67]
11. A1-10 Descend, kind Pity [0:07:37.05]
12. A1-11 Tho' hard, my Friends, yet Wholesome [0:00:19.58]
13. A1-12 Fond, flatt'ring World [0:03:26.50]
14. A1-13 O bright Example of all goodness [0:00:26.17]
15. A1-14 Bane of Virtue [0:05:40.65]
16. A1-15 Come, mighty Father [0:02:17.10]
17. A1-16 Fly, fly, my Brethren [0:00:43.25]
18. A1-17 As with rosy steps the Morn [0:05:45.08]
19. A1-18 All Pow'r in Heav'n above [0:02:18.00]
20. A1-19 Mistaken wretches [0:00:19.60]
21. A1-20 Dread the Fruits of Christian Folly [0:02:58.30]
22. A1-21 Deluded Mortal [0:01:00.00]
23. A1-22 Angels, ever bright & fair [0:04:24.12]
24. A1-23 Unhappy, happy Crew [0:00:56.73]
25. A1-24 Kind Heav'n [0:05:30.30]
26. A1-25 O Love, how great thy Pow'r [0:00:19.60]
27. A1-26 Go, gen'rous, pious youth [0:03:31.17]
CD2
01. A2-1 Ye Men of Antioch [0:00:26.72]
02. A2-2 Queen of Summer [0:00:52.18]
03. A2-3 Wide spread his Name [0:02:12.67]
04. A2-4 Return, Septimius [0:00:36.50]
05. A2-5 Venus laughing from the skies [0:01:19.15]
06. A2-6 Interlude [0:00:40.15]
07. A2-7 O thou bright Sun [0:00:27.08]
08. A2-8 With Darkness, deep [0:03:43.07]
09. A2-9 Interlude [0:01:06.55]
10. A2-10 Symphony of Soft Musick [0:01:09.73]
11. A2-11 But why art Thou disquieted [0:00:22.57]
12. A2-12 Oh, that I on wings could rise [0:04:07.63]
13. A2-13 Long have I known [0:01:08.35]
14. A2-14 Tho' the Honours [0:03:46.35]
15. A2-15 O save her then [0:00:37.70]
16. A2-16 Deeds of Kindness to display [0:06:58.17]
17. A2-17 The Clouds begin [0:00:26.60]
18. A2-18 Defend her, heav'n [0:03:53.28]
19. A2-19 Or lull'd with Grief [0:00:38.65]
20. A2-20 Sweet Rose, & Lilly [0:02:37.60]
21. A2-21 O save me, Heav'n [0:01:12.32]
22. A2-22 The Pilgrim's Home [0:02:45.43]
23. A2-23 Forbid it, Heav'n [0:02:01.15]
24. A2-24 To Thee, Thou glorious Son [0:04:53.20]
25. A2-25 Tis night [0:00:42.37]
26. A2-26 He saw the lovely Youth [0:04:36.70]
CD3
01. A3-1 Lord, to Thee [0:04:58.35]
02. A3-2 But see [0:00:30.20]
03. A3-3 When sunk in Anguish & Despair [0:03:24.45]
04. A3-4 Blest be the Hand [0:03:34.05]
05. A3-5 Undaunted in the Court [0:00:26.45]
06. A3-6 Ah, Theodora [0:00:35.13]
07. A3-7 Whither, Princess, do you fly [0:01:19.00]
08. A3-8 She's gone [0:00:24.22]
09. A3-9 New scenes of Joy [0:03:46.40]
10. A3-10 Is it a Christian Virtue [0:01:51.15]
11. A3-11 From Virtue springs each gen'rous Deed [0:05:39.18]
12. A3-12 Cease, ye Slaves, your fruitless Pray'r [0:01:08.35]
13. A3-13 Tis kind, my Friends [0:00:47.47]
14. A3-14 How strange their Ends [0:03:00.30]
15. A3-15 On me your Frowns [0:00:31.65]
16. A3-16 Ye Ministers of Justice [0:01:15.68]
17. A3-17 And must such Beauty suffer [0:00:39.07]
18. A3-18 Streams of Pleasure ever flowing [0:05:48.58]
19. A3-19 E'er this, their Doom is past [0:00:16.10]
20. A3-20 O Love Divine [0:02:24.67]
The failure of Handel's Theodora apparently didn't faze the composer at all. He told the librettist that "The Jews won't come because it is a Christian story, and the ladies won't come because it is a virtuous one!" It's a great line. He also said that the music would sound better in an empty hall, and whether you accept that or not, there's no question that this late work is a masterpiece. It was also Handel's favorite oratorio, and this is quite simply the finest performance of it available. -- David Hurwitz
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