| Orlando (opera) |
Article Index for Orlando |
Website Links For Orlando |
Information AboutOrlando (opera) |
|
PERFORMANCE HISTORY The opera was first given at the King's Theatre in London on 27 January 1733 . There were 10 performances but it was not revived thereafter. The first modern production was at the Unicorn Theatre , Abingdon , on 6 May 1959 . London's Royal Opera House will perform "Orlando" in the February of 2007. The Royal Opera House's magazine, ''About the House'', describes Orlando's mad scene as "one of the most remarkable pieces of writing in Handel's output." ROLES SYNOPSIS Orlando, a great soldier in Charlemagne's army, falls desperately in love with the pagan princess Angelica, who is in turn in love with another man, Medoro. This Orlando cannot accept, and he is driven to madness, prevented only from causing absolute carnage by the magician Zoroastro, who eventually restores his sanity. The role of Orlando was originally written for Senesino, the great alto castrato; nowadays it is generally performed by a countertenor. The role of Medoro, however, was originally written for an alto (mezzo-soprano), and this is usually retained in modern performance, though not always. The characters of Dorinda and Angelica are represented by sopranos, and Zoroastro by a bass. SOURCES ''Orlando (ii)'' by Anthony Hicks, in 'The New Grove Dictionary Of Opera ', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7 |
|
|