Camerata Øresund - Händel's favourite oratorio
Come along to the traditional Christmas concert in The Black Diamond.
Programme
Georg Friedrich Händel: Theodora, HWW 68
Camerata Øresund and Christian IV's vocal ensemble welcome Christmas with baroque music that is not traditional Christmas music, just as Händel's Messiah is not. Theodora tells a powerful story of a female martyr – a brave woman who uses compassion and love as her weapon against society's injustice, oppression and tyrannical power. The oratorio is a tragedy in which Theodora sacrifices everything for her faith, and the work is based on religious devotion and human nature – both the good and bad sides. Theodora was Händel's personal favourite oratorio. Perhaps in the long run this will have the same status in the Christmas repertoire as Händel's Messiah?
Camerata Øresund
Camerata Øresund is a visionary ensemble that is passionate about baroque music, its diverse expressions and enchanting sound universe. Since its foundation in 2010, the ensemble has grown to become one of the region's most prominent baroque ensembles with around 30 concerts annually in Denmark and abroad. The ensemble's projects range widely, from rare musical discoveries and experiments with non-traditional concert forms and themed concerts for children. Regardless of the form, Camerata Øresund is driven by a passion for baroque music and a vision to convey its colourful content in a creative and lively way - to the delight of both new listeners and experienced music lovers. The ensemble will be expanded for this production with Christian IV's vocal ensemble and a star team of five international soloists.
Peter Spisšký
Peter Spisšký is concert master and initiator of Camerata Øresund. Peter moved from Slovakia to Sweden to study in Malmö only a few days after Czechoslovakia won back its freedom in the famous "Velvet Revolution". His efforts and interest in early music began already during his violin studies in Bratislava, where in many ways they were much further along than in the Nordic countries.
Contributors
Camerata Øresund under the direction of Peter Spisšký
Christian IV's vocal ensemble Soloists
Theodora: Helena Schuback – soprano
Didymus: Steffen Jespersen – countertenor
Irene: Matilda Paulsson – mezzo-soprano
Septimus: Guy Cutting – tenor
Valens: Jacob Abel – bass
Theodora is supported by: Danish Arts Foundation, William Demant Foundation, Aage Johanne Louis-Hansens Foundation, Knud Højgaards Foundation, AP Møller Foundation and Augustinusfonden.