Rickard Söderberg. in the titelrole at Joseph Haydn's opera Orlando Paladino, at the Drottningholms Slottsteater, July 29-August 12, 2012. Photo Mats Bäcker.

Orlando paladino

at Drottningholm Slottsteater.

Drottningholm Slottsteater

Dramma eroicomico in three acts  by Joseph Haydn
Libretto: Nunziato Porta
In Italian

Photo Mats Bäcker.

STOCKHOLM: “The noble Franc knight Orlando, is madly in love with the Chinese princes Angelica, who actually is only fond of Saracen warrior Medoro. Insanity, as a result of this unrequited love, drives Orlando to kill the happy couple
. On comes the fairy Alcina who rescues the lovers by curing Orlando from his “amour fou” with her renowned witchcraft. Throughout the story a sort of medieval version of our Terminator, Rodomonte, crosses sets and scenes with only one purpose: to kill in blind rage whatever looks like Christian or Frank. In sharp contrast to this violence a shepherd, a sheperdess and Pasquale, Orlando’s servant, twitter all along like carefree and amorous birds, and even Caronte, the God of the underworld, makes his acte de présence as a helping hand to Alcina’s tricks.” Sigrid T’Hooft

Tuva Semmingsen as Alcina. Photo Mats Bäcker.

Conductor • Mark Tatlow
Director • Sigrid T’Hooft
Designer • Stephan Dietrich

Cast
Orlando, Paladin of France • Rickard Söderberg
Angelica, Queen of Cathay • Kirsten Blaise
Rodomonte, King of Barbaria • Pietro Spagnoli
Medoro, in love with Angelica • Magnus Staveland
Caronte, ferryman • Lars Johansson Brissman
Eurilla, a shepherdess • Ditte H Andersen
Licone, a shepherd, father of Eurilla • Lars Johansson Brissman
Pasquale, Orlando’s squire • Daniel Ralphsson
Alcina, a sorceress • Tuva Semmingsen

The Drottningholm Theatre Orchestra

Orlando paladino:

In front Magnus Staveland and Kirsten Blaise. in Joseph Haydn's opera Orlando Paladino, at the Drottningholms Slottsteater, July 29-August 12, 2012. Copyright © Photo Mats Bäcker.

Premiere July 29th at 16.00. Further performances August 1.3.5.7.9.11.12. Check the actual times, if it starts at 16.00 or 19.30  at

The work:

Daniel Ralphsson. Photo Mats Bäcker.

Composed by Joseph Haydn and staged in 1782 after the libretto by Nunziato Porta, his usual librettist, this comic heroic drama inspired by Ariosto’s work was already part of the particularly “comic” opera repertory in 18th century musical theatre.

Intended to celebrate the visit of the Grand Duke Paul of Russia to Eszterháza in 1782, and staged for the festival of St
. Nicholas (Patron Saint of Prince Eszterházy), Orlando Paladinowas staged 30 times after its creation before becoming Haydn’s most popular opera, thereby taking him across Europe between 1791 and 1798

.

Kirsten Blaise as Angelica in Orlando Paladino, at Drottningholms Slottsteater. Photo Mats Bäcker.

As testimony to its widespread circulation, thirteen German copies and eight Italian copies of the score still remain in existence. But it was the publication of the critical edition, in 1972, which marked its big come-back to the international stage, in the early 80s.

It provides for irresistible entertainment, whose virtuosity and happy combination of serious and comedic, magic and heroic, is somewhat reminiscent of Rossini…