Vivaldi is thought to have composed fifty operas, of which only a dozen have survived to this day. Inspired by Ariosto’s epic poem, his Orlando Furioso was written in the 1720s, the most exciting decade of the composer’s career. Jean-Christophe Spinosi has long been a passionate champion of the lyric catalogue of the Red Priest. For many people, his 2004 recording on the Naïve label, and Pierre Audi’s staging of the opera in this very venue, was their first encounter with this repertoire. These two landmarks showcased a cast featuring Marie-Nicole Lemieux and Philippe Jaroussky, which has since gone on to light up lyric stages. Twenty years later, Jean-Christophe Spinosi returns to this work, which has formed the cornerstone of his career, in the company of one of his favourite performers, the Québécoise contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux, who swaps the role of Orlando for that of the manipulative Angelica. A fascinating portrait of the tenderest and most painful emotions, Orlando Furioso is one of the finest specimens to emerge from Vivaldi’s operatic laboratory

Production Théâtre des Champs-Elysées