Handel’s Theodora with BREMF

On Friday I sang Handel’s Theodora with Brighton Early Music Festival’s Community Choir. Didymus is a wonderful part to sing, his arias tender and gentle in places, but fiery in others. ‘Kind heaven’ displays that range very well, as he alternates between feelings of prayer for divine assistance and determination to rescue her himself. The duet ‘To thee, thou glorious son of worth’ is a heartbreaking finish to the second act, as Theodora and Didymus hope they will meet again on earth but resign themselves to the fact they may only meet again in heaven.

The Community Choir sang with plenty of vigour, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.