Orlando
Cardiff Millennium Centre/Touring
4/5

ALL hail Orlando, the conquering hero and fatally flawed individual who descends into madness as his love is spurned in this superb new version of Handel’s opera from the Welsh National Opera.

Directed by Harry Fehr, Handel’s original story tells the tale of the great soldier Orlando in Charlemagne’s army who falls desperately in love with Princess Angelica, in turn in love with Medoro.

Handel wrote the two principal men’s parts to be sung by castratos but these days that level of sacrifice is not required and the roles are taken by counter-tenors.

In Fehr’s staging, the action is transplanted to the 1940s where Orlando is an RAF pilot suffering from a mental illness.

After treatment, he is ready to leave the institution only to find out that Anjelica loves another. Unable to accept losing his love he attempts to kill the two lovers.

The role is wonderfully performed by US singer Lawrence Zazzo, who convincingly brings Orlando to life as a man thwarted by love and driven to insanity.

Angelica is sung by soprano Rebecca Evans, fabulously understated in her portrayal of a woman who loves another.

The nurse Dorinda — the wonderful Fflur Wyn — is in love with Medoro (Robin Blaze) and the latter is the only jarring note of the production — it’s simply not believable that he could be the love interest of the two women.

But that is a minor gripe in what is a fabulous evening’s entertainment.

The setting in a mental institution works because the whole notion of the damaged psyche of airmen having to be patched together to be sent back into battle is grounded in reality.

The vintage costumes add to the realism and glamour, Handel’s lush music flows over us and the arias, coming thick and fast, are sublime. Conductor Rinaldo Alessandrini does a sterling job in driving proceedings on.

A sumptuous opera, superbly acted and sung.

Tours until November 18, details wno.org.uk