Orlando
Plot
Act 1
The hero Orlando is hopelessly in love with Angelica. Zoroastra wants to help deliver him from the transient joy of love and to devote himself exclusively once more to success. Zoroastra, supported by his assistant Isabella, makes starkly clear to Orlando what the consequences will be if he submits blindly to his emotions. But Orlando wants to combine love and heroism. He saves the »Princess« Isabella. Dorinda, who is devastated by her affair with Medoro, observes him. – Medoro and Angelica celebrate their blossoming love for one another. When Dorinda unexpectedly arrives, Medoro informs her of his imminent departure with his ”relation“ Angelica and attempts to avoid hurting her feelings by soothing her with warm words. Although Dorinda sees through Medoro’s words, her feelings for him are undimmed and she refuses to give up hope. – Zoroastra warns Angelica, who is waiting for Medoro, to fear Orlando’s wrath. Orlando appears, but Angelica saves the situation by feigning jealousy. Orlando vows to prove his love for her with countless deeds. – Dorinda catches the lovers red handed. As soothing platitudes no longer suffice, Angelica gives the furious Dorinda a bracelet that Orlando had recently presented to her.
Act 2
When he next meets Dorinda, Orlando recognises the bracelet and realises that Angelica has betrayed him. He vows to exact a deadly revenge. – Zoroastra warns Angelica and Medoro of Orlando’s thirst for vengeance and advises them to flee immediately. Angelica has a bad conscience. To affirm their love Medoro carves their names on the trees before departing to make preparations for their flight. As Angelica sadly bids farewell to the “green woodlands“ she is surprised by Orlando. It is only with the help of Zoroastra that she is able to evade his wrath. – The discovery of their names has tipped Orlando into madness: He imagines himself a shadow and, hallucinating, enters Hades, where he sees not only the hound of hell but also his rival lying in the arms of Proserpina. Orlando faints.
Act 3
Medoro has taken refuge with Dorinda, who still loves him. Orlando assails Dorinda with declarations of love because he considers her to be his beloved and rails against imaginary rivals. Since she regards love as a remarkable affair, Dorinda seeks advice from Zoroastra. He sees reaffirmation of his belief that reason is easily destroyed by love and, with the help of his assistant and Dorinda, makes the final preparations for Orlando’s return to sanity. Dorinda convinces Angelica that Orlando has murdered Medoro; Orlando attacks Angelica and kills her. Now all he wants is to forget. Zoroastra sprinkles »divine water« over Orlando to return him to sanity. When Orlando awakes, he is overcome with grief about the murders he has purportedly committed and resolves to kill himself. When the lovers appear - in rude health - and Zoroastra provides an explanation, Orlando declares that he is prepared to renounce his love for Angelica. Party!