Spain Handel, Orlando (concert version): Soloists, Musiciens du Louvre / Marc Minkowski (conductor). Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 24.3.2026. (JMI)
Cast:
Orlando – Aude Extremo
Angelica – Ana Maria Labin
Medoro – Yuriy Mynenko
Dorinda – Alina Wunderlin
Zoroaster – Edward Jowle
Orlando is an opera character who has lent his name to various works by prominent composers. The one discussed here is the only one that bears the simple title of Orlando without any further embellishment.
The opera belongs to Handel’s English period and premiered in London in 1733. It did not have a great success then, nor has it been very successful in our time, undoubtedly due in part to the confusing libretto (whose author remains unknown). The opera tells of the failed love affair of Charlemagne’s heroic soldier, Orlando, who is in love with Princess Angelica who, in turn, is in love with Medoro. Orlando descends into despair and madness from which Zoroaster saves him, bringing the opera to a triumphant end.
Marc Minkowski is one of the great conductors specializing in Baroque music and is renowned for leading truly remarkable performances, such as the one he conducted on this occasion in Barcelona’s Liceu. Minkowski and the Musiciens du Louvre began a tour recently at Paris’s Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and are appearing in Valencia, as well as Barcelona here in Spain. Minkowski certainly triumphed in this Orlando – his conducting was brilliant, moving and deeply felt. It goes without saying that the performance of the Musiciens du Louvre was superb under his masterful baton.
The vocal cast was headed by mezzo-soprano Aude Extremo as Orlando with her full, beautiful contralto. I did not miss the presence of a countertenor in the role. Angelica was sung by soprano Ana Maria Labin who has an attractive lyric soprano voice and sang her arias with gusto. Countertenor Yuriy Mynenko as Medoro displayed a warmer voice than is typical of singers in his vocal range, and he was excellent too. The shepherdess Dorinda was sung by light soprano Alina Wunderlin. In addition to always singing impeccably, she won over the audience with her great stage presence and received the biggest applause. Completing the cast bass Edward Jowle as Zoroaster also gave a fine performance.
José M. Irurzun
Featured Image: Soloists of Orlando, conductor Marc Minkowski and Musiciens du Louvre © A. Bofill