ORLANDO FURIOSO
THE PICCOLO THEATRE
PREMIERE
Antonio Vivaldi
ORLANDO FURIOSO
Opera in two acts
Libretto by Grazio Braccioli
based on Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso
Premiere: Teatro Sant'Angelo, Venice, 1727
Premiere at the Astana Opera House: 4-5 October 2024
Performed in Italian
(accompanied by simultaneous subtitles in Kazakh and Russian)
Antonio Vivaldi – a composer, violinist, instrumentalist and teacher – was one of the most outstanding musicians of the first half of the 18th century. Among the 94 operas he created, Orlando Furioso stands out for its vibrant blend of baroque and classicism, pathos and heroism, comedy and magic.
The musical fashion of the 1720s demanded bright colours, dance rhythms, major keys, unusual timbres in the orchestra, and musical festivity. The music of Orlando Furioso is crafted in this style.
Alcina and Orlando are the main characters of the enchanted realm of love. Overwhelmed with longing and desiring reciprocation, the sorceress Alcina enchants Ruggiero and is ready to respond to the disguised Bradamante, ignoring Astolfo’s suffering. The enchanted island drives the passionate Roland mad. Both heroes disrupt the harmony brought by the two couples (Angelica and Medoro, Bradamante and Ruggiero) but ultimately fail: Alcina loses her charms, and Roland is cured of his love. Reconciliation and naturalness restore harmony.
During his lifetime, Antonio Vivaldi was a very famous musician. However, despite all his achievements, accolades, and public admiration, his popularity began to rapidly decline shortly before and after his death. The composer and violinist spent almost two centuries in oblivion. But in the 20th century, interest in the work of the famous Italian became even stronger than during his creative period.
The modern life of the opera Orlando Furioso began with a recording in 1977 under the direction of Claudio Scimone, with mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne in the title role. Today, it is performed worldwide. The arias are popular as concert pieces.
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Music Director and Conductor: Abzal Mukhitdin, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan
Stage Director and New Musical Concept Author: Ala Simonishvili
Set and Costume Designer: Manana Gunia
Lighting Designer: Sergey Kulak
Head of the Design and Production: Viсtor Carare
Assistant Conductor: Ruslan Baimurzin
Assistant Stage Director: Nikolay Kulikov
Assistant Set Designer: Gulmira Issemgaziyeva
Assistant Costume Designer: Dariga Taishikova
Stage Managers: Altynganym Akhmetova, Ainur Khalelova, Mansiya Yestekova
ASTANA OPERA SOLOISTS AND ORCHESTRA
