7.15pm

By George Frideric Handel
Sung in English with English supertitles
New Production

Adapted from Orlando Furioso, Ariosto’s 16th century romantic epic, this extraordinary opera is cited as one of Handel’s greatest achievements, though it is rarely performed in the UK.
 
A soldier in Charlemagne’s army, the Queen of Cathay, an African prince, a shepherdess and a magician…with a flagrant disregard for geographical or historical accuracy, this supernatural story follows four characters as they become victims of the power of love; Orlando loves Angelica but she pines for Medoro, as does Dorinda. Only the magician Zoroastro remains untouched and it falls to him to solve the puzzle and avert disaster. 
 
Handel’s music effortlessly captures the emotive twists and turns of their tale – from the wild delusions of Orlando’s madness to the slow and tender sounds of Dorinda’s lilting pastoral arias and Angelica’s wonderfully plaintive melodies.
 
Sally Silver, who ‘stole the show’ (The Scotsman) in 2008’s concert performance of I Puritani, sings Angelica. Paul Goodwin, who has recently been awarded the Handel Honorary Prize of the City of Halle, conducts.

Running time approximately 3hrs 30mins

CAST

Orlando -Tim Mead
Angelica - Sally Silver
Medoro - Andrew Radley
Dorinda - Claire Booth
Zoroastro - Andreas Wolf

Conductor - Paul Goodwin
Director - Harry Fehr
Associate Director - Kally Lloyd-Jones
Designer - Yannis Thavoris

Fehr’s lively, well observed staging works a treat