Heroic comedy in two acts
Libretto by Nunziato Porta after Ariosto's "Orlando furioso" with music by Joseph Haydn, arranged and translated by Dominik Wilgenbus, in a chamber music version by Alexander Krampe.
About the play
In this heroic comedy, the earth seems to be populated by only seven people: The two knights Roland and Rodomonte, lacking alternatives, have no choice but to challenge each other to duels again and again, with no fatal outcome, of course. Angelica and Medoro, the tragic lovers, are never at a loss for new occasions for the pain of separation, fear of death and reunion... The shepherdess Eurilla feels called to be a heroine's bride and ends up with the cowardly, greedy and garrulous squire Pasquale... The resolute sorceress Alcina thus finds ample opportunity to demonstrate both her magical abilities and her very special sense of humor... Jealousy, delusions of grandeur, mistaken identity and transformation, a Furies ballet, a dragon fight and finally a flying visit to the underworld with ferryman Charon - the whole cornucopia of fantastic magic theater pours down on the astonished audience, all to the beat of Haydn's varied, always beguilingly beautiful music. It is no wonder that the work was one of the most frequently performed operas of the late 18th century; it is all the more incomprehensible how it could have been forgotten for so long.
About the production
Magic and fairytale operas are naturally not stingy with colorful images, spectacular effects, gruesome creatures and bizarre stage personnel. To the delight of the audience, Haydn's heroic comedy is no exception. The real challenge, however, is to unleash total theater with 7 singer-actors. A narrative style based on the poetics of puppet and type theater gets to the heart of Haydn's naive tone in the best sense of the word, which opulent set design and psychologizing director's theater must miss. In harmony with the corresponding aesthetics of the scene, the music reveals the great opera composer & experienced practitioner Haydn and effortlessly refutes the stubborn prejudice of the "lesser Mozart".
A tiny, witty, self-contained cosmos, created from strong theatrical assertions with craziness, virtuosity and endearing charm - that is Haydn's "Ritter Roland".
With students and instrumentalists from the MHL, Dominik Wilgenbus director, Robert Roche musical director.
- Premiere
FR / 19 / JAN / 24 8 pm / Culture and Education Center (KuB) / Bad Oldesloe
Admission: 19,10 / 25,70 Euro (reduced 12,50 / 18 Euro)
- Further performances at KuB Bad Oldesloe
SA / 20 / JAN / 24 / 8 pm
SO / 21 / JAN / 24 / 5 pm
Admission: 19,10 / 25,70 Euro (reduced 12,50 / 18 Euro)
- Performances in the large hall of the MHL
SA / 27 / JAN / 24 / 7.30 pm
SO / 28 / JAN / 24 / 5 pm
Admission: 14 / 19 Euro (reduced 8 / 12 Euro)