This week The English Concert begin rehearsals for their US and European Theodora tour; taking with them an all-star cast of Askonas Holt singers. Dorothea Röschmann, renowned for her interpretation of Rodelinda, here sings her first Theodora. Rosemary Joshua, famous for her many Handel roles, also adds Theodora to her repertoire when she joins the cast for the European performances. David Daniels sings the role of Didymus, the role that launched him on the international scene in 1996 when he made an acclaimed debut in Peter Sellar’s Glyndebourne production of the work. Sarah Connolly, fresh from her triumph as Handel’s Agrippina at the Gran Teatro del Liceu in Barcelona, sings her first Irene. And Neal Davies, who appears as Valens on the Deutsche Grammaphon Archiv recording, repeats the role for all performances in this tour. 

Harry Bicket directs the glittering cast and The English Concert - currently celebrating their 40th anniversary season - on tour for both the US and European performances, before travelling to Toronto to conduct Peter Sellar's acclaimed production of Hercules with Canadian Opera Company.