Ensemble 1700 - Orlando Generoso CD (Preorder: Ships January 1, 2027)

Agostino Steffani's opera Orlando generoso (Hanover, 1691), based on motifs from Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando furioso, combines fantasy, adventure, and passionate love entanglements into the magic of Baroque musical theater. Caught between raging jealousy, forbidden love, and manipulative sorcery, Orlando, Angelica, Medoro, and Bradamante find themselves entangled in a web of emotions and power struggles. Steffani's distinctive musical language places special demands on the ensemble led by Dorothee Oberlinger. This recording documents the acclaimed 2025 production at the Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci, where Jean Renshaw's staging revealed the timeless relevance of Steffani's drama. This recording demonstrates why Agostino Steffani is once again recognised as one of the most important opera composers between Cavalli and Handel.