SALZBURG FESTIVAL Theodora GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL

Unitel and Classica present

Conducted by Ivor Bolton Staged by Christof Loy

Christine Schäfer Bejun Mehta SALZBURG FESTIVAL Theodora GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL

Conductor Ivor Bolton highlight of the Handel commemorative year Orchestra Freiburger Barockorchester (250th anniversary of death) was the Salzburg Chorus Salzburger Bachchor A Festival’s first-ever staging of Handel’s oratorio Chorus Master Alois Glaßner “Theodora” of 1750. Christof Loy, who was voted Organ James McVinnie “director of the year” three times by the prestigious journal “Opernwelt”, created a production that is, in Theodora Christine Schäfer his words, “almost as an installation”, and groups his Didymus Bejun Mehta characters around the remains of a gigantic organ Valens Johannes Martin Kränzle in situations that echo the libretto’s tragic dilemma Septimius Joseph Kaiser of love, faith and virtue. His concept is supported Irene Bernarda Fink by the vigorous Ivor Bolton and the Freiburger Messenger Ryland Davies Barockorchester playing on original instruments, the Salzburger Bachchor, and, above all, by a fine Staged by Christof Loy cast. It is led by the luminous Christine Schäfer as a Stage design Annette Kurz Theodora who “perfectly encapsulates the heroine’s Costume design Ursula Renzenbrink combination of fragility and defiance” (AFP), Directed by Hannes Rossacher and countertenor Bejun Mehta, who “excels as Length 210’ Theodora’s lover Didymus” (The New York Times). Video director Hannes Rossacher, known both in the A production of UNITEL pop (Rolling Stones) and classical worlds (Mozart’s in coproduction with CLASSICA “Lucio Silla” for UNITEL), captures the essence of this in cooperation with Salzburg Festival rarely recorded work, another joint project of the exclusive audiovisual partners Salzburg Festival and shot in HDTV 1080 UNITEL CLASSICA. Cat.no. A04001521 Design: luebbeke.com