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)

Running time: 2 hours (with one interval)

Please note that the age limit is 10+

Management reserves the right to substitute performers and works performed

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.

LEAD ROLES AND PERFORMERS:

 

Alcina – Tatyana VITSINSKAYA / Saltanat MURATBEKOVA

Orlando –        Rasul ZHARMAGAMBETOV, winner of the State Youth Award “Daryn” /

                                         Sultan BAKHYTZHAN

Angelica –        Assem SEMBINA / Aizada KAPONOVA, Knight of the Order of Kurmet

Medoro –         Arthur GABDIEV / Alikhan ZEINOLLA

Bradamante – Saltanat AKHMETOVA, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan /

                         Leila ALAMANOVA

Ruggiero –       Narul TOIKENOV / Batyrzhan SMAKOV

Astolfo –           Altynbek ABILDA, laureate of the State Youth Prize “Daryn” /

                         Yermek KASSYM

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND EXTRAS OF THE ASTANA OPERA HOUSE

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Music Director and Conductor: Abzal Mukhitdin, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Stage Director and Author of the New Musical and Dramatic Concept: Ala Simonishvili

Set and Costume Designer: Manana Gunia

Lighting Designer: Sergey Kulak

Assistant Conductor: Ruslan Baimurzin

Assistant Stage Director: Yevgeniy Chainikov

Assistant Set Designer: Gulmira Issemgaziyeva

Assistant Costume Designer: Dariga Taishikova

Stage Managers: Altynganym Akhmetova, Ainur Khalelova, Mansiya Yestekova

Head of the Design and Production: Viсtor Carare

Opera Company Director: Meir Bainesh, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

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.