Review of Theodora (1996) by Tq A — 24 Feb 2009

I love this production despite the criticisms that follow. I complain because I must :) but even the things that don't work for me are far outweighed by everything else that works so beautifully. Good chorus, good acting from non-singing actors, the wonderful Richard Croft as Septimius, Frode Olsen as Valens.

DAVID DANIELS: His voice is a rare, stupendous instrument. My complaint about his singing is that it is the same beautiful sound all the time--it's a voice preoccupied with its own beauty rather than the role. He does have honest moments dramatically (in vocal interpretation as well as acting) but they are often too quickly disrupted by his preoccupation with 'la voce.'.

THE PRODUCTION: The camerawork is good with some memorable compositions; and the editing is a notch above what's generally seen in films of staged productions. The shots that don't work tend to be extreme close ups of Daniels in poutier moments. I can imagine they're difficult to cut especially if the awful pouting is even in the establishing shot.

DAWN UPSHAW: I'm not a fan of her uptight diction and too-controlled voice. Despite this, I do appreciate her phrasing, expressiveness, absolute identification with and commitment to the role. It's marvelous that she can deliver such goods with what to my ears are big handicaps.

LORRAINE HUNT: While Upshaw and Daniels deserved their ovations, I was disturbed by the smaller applause for the divine Lieberson née Hunt. The two had nothing over her in voice, interpretation, acting, musicianship or integrity in performance -- even if she was only No. 3.

Staging THEODORA like an opera instead of presenting it as oratorio is a wonderful idea. I'm grateful that Händel wrote his oratorios in English. Is the English language ever more ravishing than in THEODORA, and issued from the lungs of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson?