This week we are actually talking about an oratorio......YAY! We dive into the world of Theodora which was written by George Frideric Handel with the libretto by Thomas Morell. This story is based off Robert Boyle's The Martyrdom of Theodora and Didymus. Valens, a Roman Ruler, says that everyone needs to make a sacrifice to the God Jupiter, and those who don't will be executed. Among the people who do not want to is Theodora as she does not worship Jupiter to which her punishment isn't death, but prostitution. She escapes prison with the help of Didymus and his friend. In the end, both Theodora and Didymus are at the hands of Valens who orders both of their deaths.

Sources:

https://operascotland.org/opera/638/Theodora

https://operavision.eu/performance/theodora

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioch

This week we are talking about Falstaff! An Italian opera in three acts with a libretto by Arrigo Boito. Falstaff is unable to pay a large bill so instead of being responsible he comes up with a plan to seduce two young women who are married to wealthy men. The two women, Meg and Alice, find out his plan and hatch a plan of their own to get revenge. Alice’s husband tries to create his own plan of revenge and ends up in a fit or rage. They eventually come together and catch Falstaff forcing him to realize his wrong doings and ways of life. Listen now to get the full story!

Sources:

https://www.metopera.org/discover/synopses/falstaff/

https://www.operanorth.co.uk/news/falstaff-in-a-nutshell/

This week we are talking about Carmen! Yet another story where a man kills a woman for his own selfish desires. Don Jose thinks not with his brain but something else as be falls for Carmen leaving behind his mother as well as his partner Micaëla. Eventually the romance turns stagnant as Carmen falls for another man Escamillo. As jealousy wreaks havoc within Jose, he eventually comes to the conclusion “if I can’t have you, nobody can” and ends Carmen’s life prematurely for his own selfish desires. Listen to get the full story!

Sources:

https://www.metopera.org/discover/synopses/carmen/

https://www.eno.org/operas/carmen/