Haydn: Orlando Paladino

Christian Gerhaher (Performer), Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor), Elisabeth von Magnus (Performer), Concentus Musicus Wien (Orchestra), Malin Hartelius (Performer), Patricia Petibon (Performer), Johannes Kalpers (Performer), Markus Schafer (Performer), Michael Schade (Performer), Werner Güra (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Christian Gerhaher, Elisabeth von Magnus, Malin Hartelius, Patricia Petibon, Johannes Kalpers, et al.
• Orchestra: Concentus Musicus Wien
• Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
• Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
• Audio CD (May 30, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000EQHSK0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,848 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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. Even for those who normally don't like comic opera, this sophisticated bauble is so impressively performed that it's irresistible. Patricia Petibon's intense and individualistic way with text and music is enchanting as Angelica; Werner Güra sings Medoro with honeyed tone; Michael Schade takes Orlando through love and lunacy with great sincerity, and the whole show is almost stolen by Markus Schäfer as Pasquale, Orlando's servant, who is busy wooing Eurillia, a local shepherdess, well sung by Malin Hartelius. Elisabeth von Magnus as Alcina and Christian Gerhaher as the enraged Berber King Rodomonte are spicy and full of character. Conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt enchants us with this rarity entirely. Try it: Haydn's operas can be hard to take, but this one will tickle you. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great show; WITH full libretto and notes, March 26, 2008

By 

Aaron Silverman "DJ Kuul A" (Boynton Beach, FL, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Haydn: Orlando Paladino (Audio CD)

This is a wonderfully fun work and an excellent recording. Even those who find some of Haydn's other operas a bit primitive compared to Mozart and 19th Century works may enjoy its more modern style. It's definitely a must-buy for Haydn fans. (I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could -- I went with 4 since everyone else awarded it 5.)

It's a shame that there's no DVD available of a full production (or of pretty much any other Haydn operas). I'd love to see a performance of this show. EDIT: There is now a DVD available of a full production done in somewhat modern dress. I haven't seen it yet, but there are some clips posted on a certain website very popular for video clips.

This set does include an 84-page book with a full libretto and liner notes in English, German and Italian. As with most operas, the booklet and CD case are separate inside a cardboard slipcover. That other reviewer may have bought a copy of just the CD case that somehow got separated from its slipcase. I suppose one should check with Amazon or with the label (it's actually Sony, not RCA) to make sure that new copies still include the booklet.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SPIRITED LIVE RECORDING OF A DELIGHTFULLY WACKY OPERA, November 16, 2006

By 

Jesse Knight (woburn ma usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Haydn: Orlando Paladino (Audio CD)

I never would have found out about this if it had not popped up on a search of CDs with Malin Hartelius. A little reading about this opera, from off the beaten track, hooked me. How could I turn down an opera based on Orlando Furioso by Ariosto the "secret" source of inspiration for sci-fi authors?

The program notes included are excellent, and you will quickly see where ideas for "The Terminator" and medieval looking computer games came from.

Long before B grade sci fi movies, Haydn saw the fun he could have with this story. I am not a fan of Haydn symphonies, but found singing his Creation (in an open sing) very rewarding. Orlando is even more creative, making it well worth following along, with the libretto which is included.

If you like comic opera and science fiction it does not get much better than this. Four excellent tenors, singing in the same performance, is so rare that this alone is reason to buy this. Hartelius is at her comic best, along with everyone else. Harnoncourt conducts in an energetic way which works perfectly with the vocal lines. The sound is a little bright, but very good.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Product of Deutsche Harmonica Mundi with full booklet on libretto, July 27, 2009

By 

Abel "AMY" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Haydn: Orlando Paladino (Audio CD)

Despite the fact that Harnoncourt does record for Sony RCA occasionally, this work is NOT Sony or RCA, but Deutsche Harmonica Mundi's.
This is an opera buffa by Josef Haydn, one of the more rarely performed works in the 20th century, but luckily becoming more popular (with the able promotion of Harnoncourt and his 'crew').
Michael Schade sings the title role, with Gerhaher the brutish knight. Various sopranos sing the heroine, the sorceress, etc.
There is not one single weak link in the cast, and the ensemble work is splendid.
The 'band' of good old Harnoncourt performs with its full lustre and wit, and you will surely get a taste of the classical opera buffa in the full-fledged sense.
No disappointment.