Ludovico Ariosto's 1516 epic poem Orlando furioso (revolving around a soldier whose unrequited love drives him into madness that must be exorcised through magic) was a favorite source for baroque opera composers, partially because of the inherent opportunities for spectacular stage effects. Vivaldi, Lully, and Scarlatti all adapted the work, as did Handel, whose 1733 version is presented in this 2007 mounting from the always enterprising Zurich Opera. Musically, this production is very strong, with William Christie (a specialist in the repertoire) drawing vigorous, precise, and refined playing from the original instrument orchestra. The vocalism is on a very high level as well, with Marijana Mijanovic nicely handling the titular trousers role and her colleagues coming across as equally agile. Unfortunately, Jens-Daniel Herzog's staging indulges in today's penchant for modernization, setting the story in the early 20th century at a remote sanatorium, where Orlando, a soldier apparently shell-shocked from service in the trenches, is treated by Zoroastro, no longer a sorcerer but a white-smocked clinician. While this conception has the practical benefit of removing the need for medieval sets and magical effects, it has little else in its favor. Nevertheless, Orlando is a fine and stylistically innovative work, one sufficiently rare that even a less-than-optimum mounting (presented here with DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, and PCM stereo options) is still welcome. Recommended, overall. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Orlando
(2007) 2 discs. 155 min. DVD: $45.98. In Italian w/English subtitles. Arthaus Musik (dist. by Naxos of America). ISBN: 978-3-939873-67-9. Volume 24, Issue 2
Orlando
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: