Description

Orlando by Handel - Zurich Opera DVD

UPC: 807280130997

Product Features

Title: Orlando by George Frideric Handel
Format: 2x DVD Video (NTSC)
Running Time: 155 minutes (108 minutes + 47 minutes)
Sound Format: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
Picture Format: 16:9
Languages:Region Code: 0 (Region Free)
- Original Language: Italian
- Subtitle Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian
Production:
- Live Recording: Opernhaus Zürich, 2007
- Conductor: William Christie
- Orchestra: La Scintilla of the Zurich Opera
- Stage Director: Jens-Daniel Herzog
- Set and Costume Design: Mathis Neidhardt
- Lighting Design: Jürgen Hoffmann
- Cast:
  - Orlando: Marijana Mijanović
  - Angelica: Martina Janková
  - Medoro: Katharina Peetz
  - Dorinda: Christina Clark
  - Zoroastro: Konstantin Wolff

Overview

Orlando, composed by George Frideric Handel, is a masterful opera seria in three acts based on the epic poem Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto. This production, recorded live at the Zurich Opera House in 2007, presents a sophisticated interpretation of Handel's work, led by the esteemed conductor William Christie and directed by Jens-Daniel Herzog.

The story of Orlando revolves around the knight Orlando's internal struggle between love and duty, ultimately leading to madness. The opera is celebrated for its rich emotional depth, complex characters, and Handel's exquisite musical composition. The Zurich production, with its innovative set and costume designs by Mathis Neidhardt, is both visually and musically stunning, featuring a stellar cast including Marijana Mijanović as Orlando and Martina Janková as Angelica.

The orchestra "La Scintilla" of the Zurich Opera, under Christie's direction, delivers a vibrant and historically informed performance, bringing Handel's baroque masterpiece to life.

Interesting Facts

William Christie is renowned for his expertise in baroque music and historically informed performances, making this production of Orlando particularly authentic and compelling.
The libretto, although written by an anonymous poet, is inspired by the work of Carlo Sigismondo Capece and the 16th-century epic Orlando Furioso, which has been a source of inspiration for many artists and composers.
Marijana Mijanović, who plays the title role of Orlando, is known for her powerful contralto voice and her exceptional ability to convey the emotional turmoil of Handel's complex characters.