2018–19 Season

Orlando

Music by George Frideric Handel

Trapped inside his war-torn mind in a military hospital during WWII, the pilot Orlando can’t tell reality from delusion. The trauma of war has turned his love into madness, and only through the help of his friends can he overcome the lasting effects of war. Experience this powerful and gripping story through Handel’s colorful music.

Production New to San Francisco Opera

Meet the Cast

Libretto by Carlo Sigismondo Capece

Sung in Italian with English supertitles

See Photos

Hear the Music

Watch Videos

Events During Orlando

Pre-Opera Talks

Free to Ticketholders. For every performance, join us in the Orchestra section 55 minutes prior to curtain.

CD Signing with Sasha Cooke and Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen

Meet Sasha Cooke and Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen in person at a special CD signing following the performance of Orlando on June 15. Learn more.

Open Curtain

Join us for an open curtain intermission on Tuesday, June 18.

Reviews

[Sasha Cooke is] superb as Orlando

– The San Francisco Examiner

Soprano Heidi Stober gave a muscular, fearless and slightly acidic performance as Angelica

– San Francisco Chronicle

Gansch expounds…with charm and a sumptuous, radiant voice

– The San Francisco Examiner

Countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen as Medoro — his tone [was] strong and gleaming, his phrasing endlessly eloquent

– San Francisco Chronicle

Sturdy bass-baritone Christian Van Horn’s voice was as commanding as his tall presence and sagacity

– The San Francisco Examiner

Conductor Christopher Moulds led the orchestra from the harpsichord with facility and verve

– The San Francisco Examiner

Synopsis

A mentally tormented warrior becomes entangled in a love triangle set by an ambiguous agent.

Read Complete Synopsis >

Cast and Creative

CAST

Orlando	Sasha Cooke
Angelica	Heidi Stober
Dorinda	Christina Gansch ^*
Medoro	Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen ^*
Zoroastro	Christian Van Horn

PERFORMANCES

June 9, 15, 18, 21, 27, 2019

CREATIVE

Conductor	Christopher Moulds ^*
Director	Harry Fehr ^*
Production Designer	Yannis Thavoris ^*
Original Lighting Designer	Anna Watson ^*
Revival Lighting Designer	Tim van ‘t Hof ^*
Projection Designer	Andrzej Goulding ^*
Fight Director	Dave Maier

* San Francisco Opera debut

A production of Scottish Opera.

Previous performance of Orlando can be found in our Archive.

MADE POSSIBLE BY

Bernard and Barbro Osher; and Jan Shrem & Maria Manetti Shrem, through the Emerging Stars Fund; and Joan & David Traitel, through the Great Singers Fund.