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Haydn Opera "Orlando Paradino"The highlight of this year is of course Haydn's heroic comical opera "Orlando Paladino" which Mr. Fischer worked as an artistic director and Haydn Orchestra had accompanied. This Opera was first performed in 1982 and in the composer's life time it was performed in many cities in Europe like Prague, Vienna, Budapest, etc. Since it is small and does not have many roles, it doesn't play so often after 200 yeas of time. This production is very important in the music history. Synopsis (In the parentheses is the characteristic of this production)Act 1.The daughter of the farmer Licone (in a scarecrow costume), Eurilla's work is interrupted one day by the surprising arrival of the King of Barbary, Rodomonte. He threatens the people and asks where the loved Angelica is. Angelica who loves the young man Medoro also scares of Orlando, raging with jealousy and prey to madness. The powerful sorceress Alcina appears and promises her the protection against Orlando, showing her magic power. Medoro sees Orlando is coming. Angelica decides that he shall flee, however Medoro doesn't know what shall he do. The squire of Orlando, Pasquale appears (with the long sword) and he sighs away that the work is so tough and the food is so little. Rodomonte (pretend) riding the horse appears and challenges him to duel. However Pasquale offers an unknightly boxing. Eurilla stands in between then Pasquale tells her that he had traveled all over the world but anywhere he was always hungry. Orlando appears singing the love for Angelica. He stares the name carved on the tree with jealousy. (That is Alcina's trick.) He threatens Eurilla and Pasquale (brandishing the long sword, and Mr. Fischer and the orchestra prostrated in playing to avoid it.) and make them tell where Angelica is. Eurilla and Pasquale ask Angelica to flee, then Rodomonte comes. He could not find any one to duel yet and is looking for Orlando. Medoro had escaped in a safe place. Suddenly the sorceress appears and transforms Rodomonte to stone. When Orlando comes and she transforms him to stone, too. lovers are saved at the moment. Act 2.Angelica laments over Medoro who had fled. She is persecuted by the figure of Orlando days and nights. Alcina is worried about the madness but she frees Orlando. Rdomonte appears and sees Orlando. They duel and Rodomonte is injured. Eurilla wants to help him but he refuses (She tries to stop the duel but since she does not release the sword , Rodomonte gets seriously injured.), because for the knight like him, it is the best honor to fight and die for the loved one. In a lonely region near the sea, Medoro still hesitates between fleeing or not. Eurilla leads him to the cave where he can hide from Orlando. He is still wavering in his mind. He asked Eurilla to tell Angelica that he will die here but please love him forever. On second though, he asks her not to tell Angelica or tell differently. Pasquale appeals Eurilla (in historic musician's costume) that he has a musical talent. (He conducts and sings like a Tenor) He proposes her to marry and she accepts willingly. Quickly he asks for her hands. Angelica worries about Medoro but he accidentally meets Orlando and killed. Alcina takes Angelica and sends her to Medoro. Then she warns him of his madness and disappears. Suddenly the ocean rises and he was surrounded by horrible monsters (Actually they are himself in the mirror.) come from there. On the other hand, Pasquale was so happy because he married Eurilla. Orlando start fighting the strong enemy, the sorceress. He sends Pasquale to search Alcina but in vain.. Suddenly Alcina appears and requires of him to give up Angelica. He refuses it but he loses his consciousness by Alcina's magic. Pasquale surprises and runs away. Act 3
Angelica grieves over Medoro's death. Alcina appears and comforts her. She shows Orlando who lost his memory to Angelica and resurrects Medoro. Happy couples, Angelica and Medoro, Eurilla and Pasquale, sing happily together with Alcina and Caronte. Orlando goes away by himself. Picture: Finale from the last rehearsal. From left, Eurilla, Pasquale, Alcina, Caronte, Medoro, and Angelica. Orlando goes away.Go back to Top of Internationale Haydntage '95
"Orlando Paradino" Review - Big Success with Comical Production and Rhythmical Music !!The scene of the original scenario is the medieval times, however, the production by a young director Matthias Schomfeldt (31 yeas old) was contemporary and very enjoyable opera. Before the curtain risen, there was a box shaped simple setting on the stage and the black see-through curtain had covered the entire stage and the settings. In the middle of the overture, the sorceress Alcina appeared from the audience and prepared the stage. Before Alcina cut down the curtain with big scissors at the end of the overture, all audience had been attracted in the opera world. The play kept going with light tempo, accompanied many comical acts and beautiful rhythmical music by Mr. Fischer and Haydn Orchestra. In spite of the difference of language, it was very enjoyable production. Each singer was also wonderful. Soprano Yuko Kamahora expressed Angelica's love and sorrow with beautiful coloratura. On the other hand, another Japanese Soprano Miyuki Kaneko played very cute Eurilla with comical acts and aria, and pleased the audience very much. American Mezzo-Soprano Katharine Goeldner played the elusive and a little naughty sorceress Alcina and set the opera off to advantage. Scot Weir of Orlando, Dieter Honig played Rodomonte and Tam? Darazi of Medoro attracted people with individual arias. Especially the argentine Baritone Hernan Iturralde played Pasquale won the storm of applause with humorous act and wonderful song. When Pasquale appeals Eurilla that he has a musical gift, he took over conducting and involved Mr. Fischer and Haydn Orchestra in the play. Someday we hope to see he is playing Figaro in a big opera house. The costumes designed by young Kersten Paulsen were beautiful and especially, Alcina's red dress and her hairstyle were very impressive. This production is under the negotiation of the performing at Mostly Mozart Festival '96 held at Lincoln Center in New York, USA. If it is realized, New Yorker familiar with Metropolitan Opera must be impressed by Haydn's Opera very much. Go back to Top of Internationale Haydntage '95
Comment by Mr. Fischer"Orland Paladino" was performed in Italian. We asked Mr. Fischer about the language of Opera. "In the beginning, both of the production side and singers wanted to play in German. Only myself and the stage manager of Haydn Orchestra, Rudi Morawitzs insisted to play in Italian and every body else was against us. The reason is most of audience are Austrian who don't understand Italian, also it costs to much to provide subtitles in German. Since when Haydn himself had performed in German, it didn't succeed, I wanted to perform it in Italian. The production in Italian is totally different from in German. In Italian, we make the Recitative short because most of people doesn't understand, and the music becomes more important. The understandable act is also important in order to make up for the lack of the explanation of the circumstances." Go back to Top of Internationale Haydntage '95
Yuko Kamahora, Miyuki Kaneko Interview!There was a chance to interview Yuko Kamahora played Angelica, and Miyuki Kaneko, Eurilla of "Orlando Paladino". We asked about Mr. Fischer's impression.
Kamahora: "I had worked with him in Kassel Opera. At that time, even the premiere, he does not show up until few days before the performance, however, this time he came very early. I think this production is so important to him. His music is very passionate. Just like 'Stirring blood of Hungarian'. He was so excited during the performance and I was worried that his voice may be heard by audience.'
Yuko Kamahora(Down) was born in Osaka and studied music in Kobe and Tokyo, and won the first prize of "Music competition of Japan" in 1982. From '86 to '92 she had worked in Kassel National Theater with Mr. Fischer who was the music director until '91. She also received Opera award from Giraud Association. It is hard to believe but she has 8 year old child. She now lives in Kassel with her child and husband who plays violin in Kassel Opera, and has concerts in Germany and Japan. Go back to Top of Internationale Haydntage '95
Concerts with Haydn OrchestraThere were two more concerts with Haydn Orchestra conducted Mr. Fischer. On September 14th in the Berg Church, they performed the Oratorio "The return of Tobias". It is Haydn's first oratorio and very long piece more than three hours, however, Mr. Fischer cut some Aries and most of Recitatives and it was about two hour performance. Main reason is, because it was crowded and not a good condition for listening to music. Mr. Fischer hesitated until the last moment. On the last day of the festival, September 17th, Symphony 76 and 101 "The clock:" and piano concerto were performed. It is a pity that the young pianist Barbara Moser was not perfect since she was agitated by the mistake of first movement. However two symphonies were wonderful and specially symphony 76 was bright, enjoyable Mr. Fischer like Haydn. In addition, prior to the festival, Mr.Ohga, Chairman of Sony Group conducted Haydn Orchestra. Mr. Fischer played triangle and Manager Mr. Rudi Morawitz played the drum. Go back to Top of Internationale Haydntage '95
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Content © 1996 -
2009 Adam Fischer & Haydn Orchestra Fan Club
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Orlando approaches to the world of death.
Charon, the ferryman of the river Lethe that is the border between the under world and the
world of living, is waiting for him. Alcina orders Charon to heal Orlando with the water
of Lethe and send him back to living world. Orlando gets his consciousness and tries to
call back his memory. However, it is so indistinct that he cannot remember anything. 
Kaneko: "The rehearsal was 4 weeks. I deeply regret that
we have only two performances. Mr. Fischer performs very dynamic. This is the first time
to work with him. At first I was afraid of him because he is very famous, but later I
understood he is very friendly. Not only music, he has so many ideas of act. One time
suddenly he started acting and others are all surprised very much." 
Miyuki Kaneko(Up) was born in Nagano and after graduated Tokyo Music
Collage, she studied in Stuttgart music collage. She was the finalist of "Palma
d'oro" Lied Competition held in Italy, 1991. In Japan she had debuted in Cherubino of
Marriage of Figaro. Since her debut in Ulm National Theater in 1992, she has working both
Germany and Japan. 