Welsh National Opera

‘An adventurous journey through the deepest recesses of the human soul and a treasure trove of memorable music moments’ Valeria De Lucca (Lecturer in Music at the University of Southampton).

Messiah, the Water Music, the Music for the Royal Fireworks – these are the works for which Handel is best known today. But he remains one of the giants of opera. Very few composers possess his understanding of the human condition. Full of ravishing music and poignant drama, Orlando is one of his greatest operas. It is also the perfect place to begin a love affair with his operas.

In Orlando Handel explores the destructive side of love as our hero is pushed over the edge by his feelings for Angelica. The moment of his madness takes place at the end of Act II. Orlando thinks he is in the underworld. The scene encapsulates how skilfully Handel conveys human suffering throughout the opera. His brilliant writing for the scene combines quiet torment and fevered anguish to sublime effect. It is preceded by Angelica’s aria which is among the loveliest and most touching music Handel ever wrote. Handel’s opera reaches into our souls.