From Prostitute and Martyr to Terrorist: The 'Theodora' by Händel Arrives at the Royal Theatre

Theodora, a fervent Christian, is condemned to prostitution for refusing to participate in sacrifices honoring Jupiter, as required by the Roman governor's edict. This is the central character of 'Theodora', the remarkable "Christian dramatic oratorio" composed by Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759) at the end of his life. The prostitute martyred in antiquity becomes a combative terrorist in the present-day operatic production by Katie Mitchell, which will be hosted by the Royal Theatre in a week. It is a co-production with the Royal Opera House in London, where it premiered with great success two years ago.

Given the violence of some scenes with high sexual and violent content, which depict abuse, assaults, and rapes, the Royal Theatre has, for the first time, employed an intimacy coordinator, Ita O'Brien.

Händel's original work takes place in the 4th century, but the stage director moves the action to the 21st century. She sets it in a 'Putin-like' embassy with rooms functioning as a brothel, and a kitchen where conspiracies, attacks, and explosives are 'cooked'.

Katie Mitchell, who imparts a feminist, irreverent, and iconoclastic reading to the works she directs, transforms the Christian employees of the embassy into a radical religious minority led by Theodora, who actively rebel against their oppressors.

"Mitchell avoids the vision of Christian women as passive martyrs and turns them into fervent guerrillas fighting against the system, represented by their bosses, tyrants who oppress religious minorities," explains Jan Matabosch, the artistic director of the theatre.

'Theodora' was a resounding failure at its premiere in London in 1750, but today it is considered one of the best works of its creator. "Händel knew it was audacious to premiere it then and that it would be misunderstood, and today it is somewhat the same, although its fabulous music is appreciated, and perhaps today's audience has a greater capacity to enjoy and understand the genius and scope of this score," ventures Matabosch.

Julia Bullock, Joyce DiDonato, Iestyn Davies, Ed Lyon, Callum Thorpe, and Thando Mjandana make up the cast of this production, which the Royal Theatre offers in seven performances from November 11 to 23.

The musical direction is by Ivor Bolton, for whom this oratorio is also "the best Händel has written, the pinnacle of his work." A great specialist in the Baroque repertoire, Bolton will conduct his fourth Händel title with the Royal Theatre's Orchestra and Choir, after tackling 'Rodelinda' (2017), 'Parténope' (2021), and 'Orlando' (2023).

Händel wrote the score for Theodora in just over a month, at the age of 65, although he was exhausted, aged, and ill. The work, premiered without public appreciation at London's Covent Garden, is the only oratorio in his catalog on a Christian theme and endowed with an almost operatic dramaturgical structure that sets it apart from all others.

'Theodora' is thus quite singular within Händel's catalog, who had a special fondness for this work, despised by the public of his time. The libretto by Thomas Morell is based on the work 'Love and Religion Demonstrated in the Martyrdom of Theodora and Didymus' by the famous physicist, philosopher, and alchemist Robert Boyle.