Orlando HWV 31

Premiered in London in 1733, Handel’s “magic opera” Orlando is based on a libretto by Carlo Sigismondo Capeci that derives indirectly from Ludovico Ariosto’s epic poem Orlandofurioso.

This subject was very popular at the time and was frequently set to music, e.g. by Jean-Baptiste Lully, Agostino Steffani and Joseph Haydn. The title role of Orlando is the last one thatHandel wrote for the celebrated castrato Senesino. Several stunning stage effects intended to illustrate Zoroastro’s sorcery call for sophisticated baroque stage machinery.

The vocal score has been adaptedandcarefully amended in keeping with the revision of the complete edition volume. The engraving and presentation of the former vocal score (BA 4027-90) have also been meticulously revised in many details. However the paginationstays the same so that both vocal scores are compatible with each other. A new Foreword in two languages (Eng/Ger) is also included in the edition.

– Urtext edition based on the Halle Handel Edition

– Fullscore (BA4087-01) & vocal score (BA4087-90) available for sale and performance material (BA4027-72) available for hire