Curtis Opera Theatre: Orlando Paladino

Romance and madness collide in Haydn’s heroic comedy Orlando Paladino. Inspired by Ludovico Ariosto’s 16th-century epic poem, the opera follows princess Angelica and her beloved Medoro as they flee the jealous knight Orlando—a character based on Frankish military hero Roland—whose unrequited love drives him toward delirious obsession. The fantastical plot unfolds with a powerful sorceress, a descent into the underworld, and a resolution that affirms the power of true love.

Premiered in 1782 at the Esterházy court theatre, Orlando Paladino quickly became one of Haydn’s most popular stage works. Its score pairs the wit and momentum of opera buffa with the elegance of opera seria—an approach that anticipates Rossini and Donizetti—through quick-moving recitative, expressive arias, and energetic ensemble finales. Conductor Nicholas McGegan and director Eve Summer lead a cast of rising young opera stars and members of Curtis Symphony Orchestra, bringing Haydn’s sharp theatrical timing and imaginative storytelling to life.