One couldn’t help but find the costumes (or lack of them) in ‘Orlando Paladino’ confusing. Magnus Staveland’s Medoro wears skinny grey jeans and a sharp black suit jacket, wooing his lover Angelica, who is dressed in a floor-length hi-shine, scratchy gown, tiara and frumpy heels. Meanwhile, humble shepherdess Erilla struts around the stage in gold platforms. It’s peculiar but not fatal: I found it distracting, even if Sunhae Im’s cerise mini-dress was fabulous. Medoro and Angelica’s love affair looked unconvincing, but aurally rather than visually, it was a delight. ‘Orlando’ was momentarily moving and perfectly decent. The effervescent ensemble, tightly packed in the wondrous Usher Hall, clearly relished the performance. Looking around me, so did everyone else.
Usher Hall, 25 Aug, 7.00pm (10.20pm), £10.00 – £42.00, eifpp29.
tw rating 4/5
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Sections: by Lisa Clarkson - ED2011 Theatre Reviews - tw rating 4/5 | Tags: Franz Joseph Haydn, Frieburg Baroque Orchestra, Usher Hall
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