Handel Theodora. Heather Harper (sop); Maureen Lehane (mez); Maureen Forrester (contr); Alexander Young, Edgar Fleet (tens); John Lawrenson (bar); Amor Artis Chorale; English Chamber Orchestra / Johannes Somary.

Vanguard Classics (Mid  price) (CD) 08.4075.72 (two discs: 152 minutes: ADD). Text included. From VXS 15000 (12/69).

Handel regarded Theodora, with some justification, as his favourite oratorio, though it was poorly received at the time (the story of a Christian martyr apparently rousing little enthusiasm); and later commentators have praised its unusual profundity. It is strongly and dramatically characterized, and for it Handel wrote some of his finest music—any number of outstanding arias, a superb prison scene (which opens with a remarkable sinfonia), a moving chorus at the end of Act 2 and a magnificent final chorus. The ECO plays well for Somary, who with a few exceptions in slower numbers shows a good feeling for tempos, but he allows it constantly to overpower the chorus, and he introduces some implausible choral embellishments.

The line-up of artists in this recording looks enticing (even if nowadays a male countertenor instead of a female contralto would be preferred for the castrato part of Didymus), but Heather Harper, precise and clean as is her singing, sounds impersonal rather than intense in "Angels ever bright and fair", and some of the others, though never less than acceptable, are somewhat below their most inspired form. This is a reasonably good performance—certainly superior to that by Harnoncourt (Teldec)—but because of the considerable cuts (no fewer than five arias and several da capos and middle sections) ardent Handelians will prefer McGegan's complete (and excellent) Harmonia Mundi recording. But that's on three full-price discs.

LS