Details

Written in 1732, the hero Orlando is torn between his desire to do noble deeds and his pursuit of love. Although rebuked by the sorcerer Zoroastro for giving in to his romantic urges, Orlando nonetheless decides that love can bring its own glory, and to that end he pursues Angelica. But she has fallen for Medoro and he with her - which is not good news for Angelica's rival, the shepherdess Dorinda. The untangling of these conflicting passions through threats, magic, deceit, revelations and no little heart-searching inspired Handel to some of his most original operatic work, and Orlando's psychological focus fused with fantasy lends a particular contemporary appeal. Autumn 1940. Orlando, an RAF pilot and war hero, is admitted to a private London hospital. Torn between his love for his country and his overwhelming desire for American socialite Angelica, he swings from euphoric highs to psychotic lows, closely monitored by his psychiatrist, Zoroastro. Angelica, in turn, longs only for Medoro, Orlando's fellow patient, and dreams of their escape from war-ravaged London to the as yet untouched USA. Running time approx. 3hrs 30mins. Sung in English with English supertitles.

Cast/Performers

Sally Silver (Angelica), Tim Mead (Orlando), Andrew Radley (Medoro), Claire Booth (Dorinda), Andreas Wolf (Zoroastro)

Creatives/Company

Music: Handel
Company: Scottish Opera
Conductor: Paul Goodwin
Director(s): Harry Fehr, Kally Lloyd-Jones (associate director)
Design: Yannis Thavoris