Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien - Joseph Haydn: Orlando Paladino (2006)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 689 Mb | Total time: 69:44+71:37 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi | # 82876 73370 2 | Recorded: 2005
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 689 Mb | Total time: 69:44+71:37 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi | # 82876 73370 2 | Recorded: 2005
This delightful "dramma eroicomico" ("heroic-comic drama"–-a made-up phrase brimming with irony) tells the story of the noble knight Orlando, who goes mad being torn between duty and love, his love, Angelica, who actually wants Medoro, and Alcina, an evil sorceress out to get Orlando, and turns it into a type of farce, with great results. There is some lovely music, mostly for Angelica and Medoro, but most of it is fun and light, with characters whistling, trying to impress people with how well they sing, etc. The scoring wittily underlines their foibles.