Orlando (HWV 31) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel written for the King's Theatre in London in 1733. The Italian-language libretto was adapted from Carlo Sigismondo Capece's L'Orlando after Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, which was also the source of Handel's operas Alcina and Ariodante. More an artistic than a popular success at its first performances, Orlando is today recognised as a masterpiece.
| Librettist | Carlo Sigismondo Capece , after Ludovico Ariosto's "Orlando furioso" |
| Date of composition | 1732 |
| Premiered | 1733, January 27th (King's Theatre in the Haymarket) in London, UK |
| Type | Opera Seria |
| Catalogue | HWV 31 |
| Spoken language | Italian |
| Instruments |
Voice (Castrato)
- Orlando, a knight
Voice (Soprano) - Angelica, Queen of Cathay Voice (Soprano) - Dorinda, a shepherdess Voice (Contralto) - Medoro, an African prince Voice (Bass) - Zoroastro, a magician Orchestra |
| Links | |
| Autotranslations beta |
Georg Friedrich Haendel: Orlando, HWV 31 Georg Friedrich Händel: Orlando, HWV 31 Georg Friedrich Händel: Orlando, HWV 31 |