ORLANDO FURIOSO

Venue: Astana, Astana Opera (Kulyash Baiseitova Chamber Hall)

Date: 30-31 October, 2024

Time: 7.00 pm

Duration: 2 hours (with one interval)

Age limit: 10+

Additionally: The Management reserves the right to replace performers and performed works.

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

Tickets purchased at the Astana Opera are exchangeable and refundable only in cases of cancelled or postponed performances. In all other cases, no refunds and exchanges are possible.