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Orlando
By George Frideric Handel (Georg Friedrich Händel)
Score & Libretto
Handel, Orlando - Chrysander (HG) score (pdf).
Italian/English libretto of Handel's Orlando by the Independent Opera (pdf).
Recordings
| Handel. Orlando. (HWV 31, London 1733). Harmonia Mundi (3 CDs, forthcoming). René Jacobs, B'Rock. Orlando: Bejun Mehta, countertenor; Angelica: Sophie Karthäuser, soprano; Dorinda: Sunhae Im, soprano; Medoro: Kristina Hammarström, mezzo-soprano; Zoroastro: Konstantin Wolff, bass. Based on other recent Jacobs recordings, I would steer clear of this, a likely atrocity. |
| Handel. Orlando. (HWV 31, London 1733). Atma (3 CDs, September 2013). Program with Italian/English libretto (pdf). Alexander Weimann, Pacific Baroque Orchestra. Orlando: Owen Willetts, countertenor; Angelica: Karina Gauvin, soprano; Medoro: Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano; Dorinda: Amanda Forsythe, soprano; Zoroastro: Nathan Berg, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP |
| Handel. Orlando. (HWV 31, London 1733). K617221 (3 CDs, March 2010). Details. Jean-Claude Malgoire, La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy. Orlando: Christophe Dumaux, countertenor; Angelica: Elena de la Merced, soprano; Dorinda: Rachel Nicholls, soprano; Medoro: Jean-Michel Fumas, countertenor; Zoroastro: Alain Buet, bass. Mediocre recording with lots of vibrato. Stick with Hogwood. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP |
 Handel.
Orlando. (HWV 31, London 1733). L'Oiseau-Lyre 430 845-2
(3 CDs, 1991). Christopher Hogwood, The Academy of Ancient
Music. Orlando: James Bowman, countertenor; Angelica: Arleen
Auger, soprano; Medoro: Catherine Robbin, contralto; Dorinda:
Emma Kirkby, soprano; Zoroastro: David Thomas, bass. Superb
performance of this highlight of Handel's career as an opera
composer.
US |
UK |
DE |
FR |
CA |
JP |
 Handel.
Orlando. (HWV 31, London 1733). Erato 0630-14636-1 (3 CDs
1996). William Christie, Les Arts Florissants. Orlando: Patricia
Bardon, contralto; Dorinda: Rosa Mannion, soprano; Medoro:
Hilary Summers, contralto; Angelica: Rosemary Joshua, soprano;
Zoroastro: Harry van der Kamp, bass.
US |
UK |
DE |
FR |
CA |
JPReissued on Warner Classics 2564-69653-2 (2008) in a 6-CD set with Christie's recording of Alcina. Librettos (pdf). US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP |
Related Operas
Domenico Scarlatti. Orlando (Rome 1711). Libretto by Carlo Sigismondo Capeci.
References
Winton Dean. Handel's Operas, 1726-1741 (Boydell Press 2006).
R. Strohm, "Handel and his Italian opera texts"; "Comic traditions in Handel's Orlando." Essays on Handel and the Italian Opera. (Oxford University Press 1985).