McGegan and the Philharmonia Baroque Doing Handel’s Orlando at Tanglewood—Less is More, by Larry Wallach

Dominique-Labelle Sings Angelica in Handel's Orlando, Nicholas McGegan Conducting. Photo Hilary-Scott.

George Frideric Handel’s Orlando
Tanglewood Festival

Seiji Ozawa Hall
Tuesday August 16 2011

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra of San Francisco
Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Cast:
Angelica - Dominique Labelle, soprano
Dorinda - Yulia Van Doren, soprano
Medoro - Diana Moore, mezzo-soprano
Orlando - Clint van der Linde, countertenor
Zoroastro - Wolf Matthias Friedrich, baritone

Nicholas McGegan and his merry band of singers and instrumentalists rolled into Tanglewood on Tuesday night (August 16) to wrap up their tour of Handel’s great opera Orlando after taking it to Germany, Chicago, and New York City. The wear and tear of a tour were nowhere evident in their joyful presentation of music and theatrics—the performers still sounded like they were in the thrall of first love with this rich and rewarding score. The only member of the cast who seemed droopy was the Orlando of Clint van der Linde, and this was clearly the persona that he adopted for the misanthropic hero who seems to have lost touch with his inner Achilles. We had to wait for the mad scene late in the second act to see him take charge of the stage; then, if there had been any scenery, he would have chewed it up.

Read the full review
 on the Berkshire Review, an International Journal for the Arts!








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