Music by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Libretto by Thomas Morell (1703-84)
Cast of characters
Theodora, a noble-born Christian (soprano)
Didymus, a Christian officer in the Roman military, converted by and in love with Theodora (countertenor)
Septimius, a soldier and friend of Didymus (tenor)
Valens, President of Antioch (bass)
Irene, a Christian friend of Theodora (mezzo-soprano)
Messenger (tenor)
Choruses of Christians and Heathens
Synopsis
Theodora takes place in Antioch in the early 4th century.
Act I
Valens, the Roman governor of Antioch, orders a festival in honor of Emperor Diocletian. He requires each of his officers to make sacrifices to the Roman gods, under the threat of severe punishment (Air: “Racks, gibbets, sword, and fire”).
Didymus, a junior officer, unsuccessfully requests exemption from the sacrifices as his faith forbids worshiping the Roman gods. He tries in vain to enlist the sympathy of his superior officer, Septimius. A messenger warns the Christians of the danger they face at the hands of the Romans, but Irene rejects the idea of fleeing (Air: “As with rosy steps the morn”).
Theodora, a princess and recent convert to Christianity, says that she would endure death in service to God (Air: “Angels, ever bright and fair”).
Septimius informs her that her fate will not be execution, but prostitution. Theodora pleads for death, and Didymus vows to rescue her. Irene leads the Christians in singing Didymus’s praises (Chorus: “Go, gen’rous, pious youth”).
Act II
Under Valens’s orders, Septimius gives Theodora a final chance to honor the Roman gods and avoid punishment. Imprisoned, Theodora mourns her hardship (Air: “With darkness, deep as is my woe”) and imagines her prospects in heaven (Air: “Oh, that I on wings could rise”).
Didymus admits to Septimius that he is a Christian and loves Theodora. Although Septimius is loyal to Valens, he is sympathetic and allows Didymus to visit Theodora in prison. The scene returns to the Christians, where Irene prays for Theodora (Air: “Defend her, Heav’n”).
Didymus offers his clothes to Theodora so that she may leave unseen. She urges him to kill her to preserve her honor. He refuses, saying that he will not become a murderer. They eventually agree on his plan, and they part (Duet: “To thee, thou glorious son of worth”).
Disguised as Didymus, Theodora escapes. Didymus remains in prison in her place.
Act III
Theodora returns to the Christians, who praise Didymus's selfless act. They learn Valens has captured Didymus, and he will be put to death for his act of treason. As Didymus defends his actions to Valens, Theodora breaks in, demanding that she be condemned instead of Didymus. Valens ignores Septimius’s calls for pity (Air: “From virtue springs each gen’rous deed”) and sentences Theodora and Didymus to death.
Theodora and Didymus face their demise, singing of their sorrow and the eternal bliss that awaits them in heaven (Air and Duet: “Streams of pleasure ever flowing”).
The Christians pray for Theodora and Didymus's salvation. (Chorus: “O, love divine”).
—Peter Marshall, ©2025