Opera

Orlando Paladino

Joseph Haydn

01 Nov, 23

Orchestra conductor: Giovanni Antonini | Il Giardino Armonico

After almost fifteen years, an opera by Haydn returns to the Teatro Real. Irreverent and hooligan, this concert version of the great classicism comes with the renowned instrumental ensemble Il Giardino Armonico, conducted by Giovanni Antonini.

The Age of Enlightenment is known to us for its elevation of reason, exaltation of virtue, moderation, and, in effect, all those attributes we consider to be the opposite of a passionate, unpredictable, creative nature which we presuppose in a good show. Orlando paladino by Haydn presents a totally different aspect of the rational 18th century: that which sought to parody —reductio ad absurdum— the excesses of the Baroque era. In this case we refer to the well-known and frenzied episode of jealousy of the famous Christian paladin.

Here, in this Paladin Orlando there is a third competitor for Angelica: Rodomonte, King of Barbaria; Pasquale, a servant who continually complains about his master’s excesses; and an innocent couple of shepherds. Irreverent and libertine, the opera most performed during the composer’s lifetime, it is also a premonition of the comico-serio approach, and of some of the most emblematic characters in the operas of Mozart, particularly, don Giovanni.

Drama eroicomico in three acts

Music by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Libretto by Nunziano Porta, based on Orlando furioso by Ludovico Ariosto

Premiere at Eszterháza on 6 December 1782

Premiere at the Teatro Real

Concert version

Orchestra conductor: Giovanni Antonini

Cast

Angelica: Emőke Baráth

Rodomonte/Caronte: Renato Dolcini

Orlando: Alasdair Kent

Licone / Pasquale: Krystian Adam

Eurilla: Natalia Rubis

Medoro: Josh Lovell

Alcina: Núria Rial

Il Giardino Armonico

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Synopsis of Orlando Paladino

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.