Opera

Orlando

Georg Friedrich Händel

31 Oct, 23 - 12 Nov, 23

Musical conductor: Ivor Bolton and Francesc Prat | Stage direction: Claus Guth | Orchestra of the Teatro Real

Inspired by the protagonist of the film Taxi Driver starring Robert De Niro, stage director Claus Guth takes this representative baroque opera by Händel into a contemporary context: the consequences of a returned soldier's return to reality after the Vietnam War. A contemporary reflection of Orlando's warrior and heroic profile with the German composer's masterly score and the voices of Anna Prohaska, Christophe Damaux and Anthony Roth Costanzo.

The epic poem Orlando furioso by Ludovico Ariosto constitutes the literary basis for no less than three works — the other two are Ariodante and Alcina—, by Georg Friedrich Händel. The piece was written for Senesino, the great castrato whose supernatural abilities can be imagined due to the variety of registers which the score demands of its protagonist, especially in the extraordinary and extremely difficult «Mad scene» at the end of the second act.

With a story which revolves almost exclusively around the jealousy and alienation of its protagonist - his beloved Angelica shows affection towards Prince Medoro - the opera is considered today to be a major challenge for the stage. The acclaimed production by Claus Guth - which casts Orlando as a war veteran with PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder), incapable of dealing with reality – solves this question brilliantly, bringing light and innumerable surprises along the dramatic path which eventually becomes an exhilarating therapy.

With the collaboration of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union

Opera in three acts

Music by Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)

Anonymous libretto adapted from L'Orlando by Carlo Sigismondo Capece, based on Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando furioso.

Premiere at King's Theatre of London on 27 January 1733

Premiere at the Teatro Real

A new production of the Teatro Real, from the Theater an der Wien.

Artistic team

Musical conductors: Ivor Bolton

Francesc Prat: 10 nov

Stage direction: Claus Guth

Stage and costume design: Christian Schmidt

Lighting: Bernd Purkrabek

Dramaturgy: Ronny Dietrich

Video: Rocafilm

Cast

Orlando: Christophe Dumaux

Gabriel Díaz - 10 nov

Angelica: Anna Prohaska

Francesca Lombardi Mazzulli - 10 nov

Medoro: Anthony Roth Costanzo

Dorinda: Giulia Semenzato

Zoroastro: Florian Boesch

Orchestra of the Teatro Real

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Synopsis of Orlando

El mago Zoroastro quiere conducir a su amigo Orlando hacia el camino de la verdad, el camino de los héroes caballerescos. Pero Orlando se ve envuelto en una serie de aventuras amorosas con la princesa Angélica, la cual huye con su amante, el príncipe Medoro. Para evitar que Orlando siga obsesionado con el amor imposible que tiene hacia Angélica, el mago confunde a su amigo hasta que al final el protagonista reconoce la realidad, renuncia al amor y se dedica enteramente a la vida caballeresca lo cual permite a Medoro y Angélica tener su final feliz.