Captivating baroque opera: Orlando Generoso delights in Potsdam!

Captivating baroque opera: Orlando Generoso delights in Potsdam!

The listeners had a truly magnificent experience at the performance of “Orlando Generoso” on June 24, 2025 as part of the Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival. The opera, a masterpiece by Agostino Steffani, was directed by the talented Jean Renshaw, who cleverly integrates modern elements into the baroque opera. The tonally varied instrumentation of the Ensemble 1700, under the direction of Dorothee Oberlinger, ensured a musical delight that captivated the audience until the last note. opernmagazin.de reports that the production was accompanied by choreographed dance scenes that supported the opera's emotional themes.

The plot of Orlando Generoso, based on Ariosto's complex epic, revolves around the knight Orlando, who is obsessed with his passionate love for Angelica. Angelica ends up stranded with her heart at Medoro, which makes her a stranger in her own land, while the brave Bradamante fights against the tyrannical Atlante to save Ruggiero. These amorous entanglements and adventures take the characters on an uncertain journey where love and heroism are constantly tested. [musikfestspiele-potsdam.de](https://www.musikfestspiele-potsdam.de/programm/kalender/ Veranstaltung/orlando-generoso.html) emphasizes that the performance not only illuminates the tense relationship between the protagonists, but also urgently addresses the topic of violence and emotions.

Performance details and cast

The performance took place in Italian with German surtitles, which made it easier to immerse yourself in the action. The performance lasted about three hours, including an intermission, and those who came early enough could attend an exciting introduction by Klaus Büstrin in the colonnade courtyard at 6 p.m., although places were limited. A shuttle bus service was also offered, which made the journey pleasant. The premiere was broadcast live by radio3 and is available on the platform until July 13, 2025, providing additional incentive for listeners interested in opera. These details were compiled by [potsdam.de](https://www.potsdam.de/de/ Veranstaltung/orlando-generoso-0).

The actors also deserve special mention: Terry Wey shone in the role of Orlando, while Hélène Walter as Angelica and Shira Patchornik as Bradamante delivered strong performances. Morten Grove Frandsen as Ruggero and Gabriel Díaz, who plays the brutal Galafro, set further impressive accents. A small downside was Sreten Manojlovic's performance as Atlante, which wasn't entirely convincing. Nevertheless, the production overall has been described as outstanding and definitely deserves more performances.