Handel: Theodora Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Handel: Theodora Blu-ray Movie Review

By Jupiter, staged oratorios don't have to be horrible.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 30, 2011

It’s more than a bit ironic that Theodora, Handel’s ode to religious tolerance (albeit tolerance that Christianity is inherently superior), should have provoked one of the composer’s most notoriously un-PC and religiously insensitive comments. Handel somehow knew the writing was on the wall with regard to his oratorio Theodora, and he averred, “The Jews will not come to it because it is a Christian story,” and then, adding insult to injury, “and the ladies will not come because it is a virtuous one.” Ahem. Or perhaps, meow. Handel’s oratorios have long been the ugly stepchildren of the operatic world, weird miscreants that modern directors especially don’t quite know what to do with. The problem that a director wants to do anything with a Handel oratorio is part and parcel of the problem. Oratorios are by their very nature more musical than theatrical events, and yet director after director has wanted to tweak various oratorios into a more quasi-operatic format. Sometimes, perhaps against all odds, it works. More often than not, as in the relatively recent bizarre Viennese mounting of Handel’s Messiah, it’s a travesty, albeit one with some superior singing. This Theodora benefits somewhat from being a lesser known property to begin with, as well as a wise directorial decision to not stage it all that much. We have a unit set and chairs on a stage and that’s about it. Thankfully, it’s enough, at least most of the time.

Theodora seems to have become the “It” girl, so to speak, for directors wanting to stage an Handel oratorio. Peter Sellars caused something of a sensation a few years ago with his staging of the piece, which has since entered the repertory at Glyndebourne. Chrisof Loy takes at least a pointer or two from Sellars, including a quasi-contemporary setting, but his approach is decidedly more minimalist, and that in fact may recommend it to those who want their oratorios lean and spare, as perhaps befits their origins. This lack of outright theatricality actually is perfectly in tune with Handel’s music and dramatic approach. Despite the somewhat melodramatic nature of Theodora, this is often the music of repose and introspection, and as such it defies an overly declamatory staging, something which Loy wisely recognizes and chooses to follow.

As bizarre as it may seem, there are certain similarities between Theodora and that iconic first CinemaScope production, The Robe. Theodora takes place in the Third Century A.D. during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. The struggle between paganism and Christianity was then of course in full flower. Theodora (Christine Schäfer) is a Christian noblewoman who is under the thumb of the nefarious governor of Antioch, Valens (Johannes Martin Kränzle), who insists that a festival to honor Diocletian include enforced prayers to Jupiter, something which Theodora refuses to do. That dooms her to a life of punishment as a prostitute, something she more or less willingly decides is better than praying to a pagan God. In the meantime, she’s loved from afar by Didymus (Bejun Mehta), a Roman officer who converts to Christianity and manages to free Theodora, albeit briefly, before the two supposedly enter the Pearly Gates of Heaven as martyrs. One in fact can almost imagine them floating skyward a la Richard Burton and Jean Simmons in the closing moments of The Robe.

This is easily one of Handel’s most “interior” pieces, and that is why by its very nature it defies a theatrical staging. Loy is on record stating that he wanted to “dispense with a narrative form of action,” and that he views his Theodora as “a production that is almost like an installation.” One might then argue about whether it was even necessary to do this much to stage the piece, but the fact remains that Loy’s intentional minimalism only very rarely gets in the way of Handel’s intent, and that’s decidedly a good thing. (About the only egregious “error” is the boneheaded decision to have Didymus don Theodora’s bright red dress as the two exchange “identities” in order to facilitate Theodora’s freedom).

This is an impeccably well sung and played Theodora, bringing one of Handel’s curiously lesser known properties to life with an at times awesome energy. The score is largely reverential in tone, as befits its subject matter, with elegiac arias and gorgeously melancholic themes wafting through minor keys. Schäfer and Mehta make for a very appealing romantic duo, but while Mehta’s crystalline countertenor is an instrument of rare beauty and facility, it may well be Kränzle’s pentrating bass as Valens that most sticks with listeners, at least from a dramatic standpoint.

Ivor Bolton conducts with precision and nuance, leading the Freiburger Barockorchester and the Salburger Bachchor through their paces with a measured approach that helps to color Handel’s late piece with appropriately autumnal ambience and just the right amount of aching pathos. This is certainly a far different Handel than that of Messiah, and it may actually come as a surprise to some listeners familiar only with the composer’s “greatest hits” that he can be so quietly introspective and soul searching.

Christianity is largely about grace and salvation, as well as redemption and forgiveness. All of those elements sprang to mind as I watched this Theodora, especially as I remembered my less than kind words about the staging of Handel’s Messiah. This production proves that in the right hands, a staged oratorio doesn’t have to be a debacle, and it indeed can be a worthy theatrical event in and of itself.

Handel: Theodora Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Theodora plays out in a largely black and white design, and so this AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1 doesn't have a whale of a lot of opportunity to strut its stuff, color-wise, other than the flaming bright red dress Theodora (and, later, Didymus—yes, Didymus) dons. That said, this is a sharp and appealing visual presentation that offers abundant fine detail and well above average contrast. Flesh tones are accurate, and about the only niggling problem is some minor crush which tends to make the players upstage who are wearing black blend into the shadow-swathed set. Camera coverage is very good throughout this offering, with copious close-ups that allow us ample shots of the stars that reveal everything from their makeup to (for better or worse) their perspiration.

Handel: Theodora Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Freiburger Barockorchester (FBO) has become one of the continent's leading period instrument ensembles, more often than not playing (per historical custom) without a conductor, but in this case, utilizing one of their more frequent guest baton wielders, Ivor Bolton. Both of the lossless audio tracks included on this Blu-ray, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and an LPCM 2.0 stereo fold down, find the ensemble in tip top shape, offering a really brilliant and gorgeously nuanced reading of one of Handel's most inward looking scores. There's very little if any of the seccho quality which can be a detriment to period instrument performances, and the continuo is especially well realized. Balance is outstanding, and the singers' voices are all reproduced with astounding fidelity and excellent dynamic range. You might have passing qualms, albeit probably minor, with the decision to "stage" Theodora, however minimally that's done here, but chances are you'll have next to nothing to complain about with either of these audio mixes.

Handel: Theodora Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

No supplements are offered on this Blu-ray, and in fact this is the rare C Major release that doesn't even feature a Main Menu. The feature simply starts playing after the loading and logo screens, and then it loops back to the beginning again once it's finished.

Handel: Theodora Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Theodora may fail as a religious screed, but as a prime example of the mature phase of Handel's compositional career, it can hardly be topped. Full of gorgeous, achingly lyrical melodies and some brilliantly evocative choral moments, this is an oratorio which may leave some scratching their heads from a dramatic standpoint while never questioning the supreme artistry of the music. This semi-staged reading is to be commended for not going over the top, trying to shove a dramatic narrative down the oratorio's throat which simply can't be justified or sustained. The cast is wonderfully voiced, and the orchestra and chorus sound marvelous, and really that's all that matters in the long run. Not that many people are all that familiar with Theodora, despite Sellars' sensational production of a few years ago, and hopefully this new Blu-ray can help bring this beautiful piece to a wider audience. Highly recommended.