Julian Guidera

Orpheus

Blessed superhuman musical skills, Orpheus is a legendary hero from Greek myth. He is so consumed with grief at the death of his beloved Euridice that the gods allow him to lead her back from the underworld on one condition: that he will not look at her on the way. But who can resist looking at a loved one?

His story is simple and touching. It has fascinated composers for centuries. Orpheus has became the emblem of the artist who rises above earthly worries and brings us closer to eternal truths.

Feature

Orpheus and the power of song

Part human, part divine, Orpheus embodies the power of song. The sun god Apollo is said to have taught him his skills as a musician and poet. He deployed them to charm his contemporaries on earth but, beyond that, to gain entry to the forbidden territory of the underworld. It is no wonder that he became the emblem of the artist who transcends mundane cares and brings us closer to eternal verities.

Nor is it a surprise that Orpheus has been chosen by so many composers as a symbol of the artist, whose life’s work is to strive, to fail, but to be remembered, to become immortal.

Orfeo ed Euridice / New National Theatre Tokyo

Rikimaru Hotta

Behind the scenes

New National Theatre Tokyo

Lawrence Zazzo (Countertenor)

Interview with countertenor Lawrence Zazzo (Orfeo) at New National Theatre Tokyo.

Julian Guidera

Behind the scenes

Garsington Opera

Introduction to Orfeo

An introduction to Monteverdi's Orfeo at Garsington Opera, with director John Caird and conductor Laurence Cummings.

Extract

Orfeo

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Possente Spirto

At the banks of the river Styx, Orpheus (Samuel Boden) attempts to persuade Charon to allow him to pass into the underworld and find his wife Euridice.

Festival d'Aix-en-Provence

Extract

Orphée aux Enfers

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Partons, partons !

When Public Opinion and Orpheus come to claim Eurydice, all of Olympus decides to descend to the Underworld; Jupiter out of curiosity about the pretty woman, the other gods in search of a little fun.

Renaud Callebaut

Behind the scenes

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

Yves Beaunesne (Director)

Yves Beaunesne directed Orphée aux Enfers (Orpheus in the Underworld) in 2009 at the Aix-en-Provence Festival. Now streamed on OperaVision a decade later, Beaunesne shares some thoughts on Offenbach, his political and social satire, and reminds us of the story.

Shahbaz Hussain on tabla, RN Prakash on ghatam, Mark Wagstaff on percussion, Sergio Bucheli on theorbo, Jasdeep Singh Degun on sitar and Andrew Long on violin

Tristram Kenton / Opera North

Behind the scenes

Opera North

Monteverdi's Orpheus meets Indian classical music

Composer and co-music director Jasdeep Singh Degun on combining Monteverdi's opera Orpheus with Indian classical music, in a new production at Opera North.

Irish National Opera

Extract

Orfeo ed Euridice

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Che farò senza Euridice?

Act III. Orfeo (Sharon Carty) has finally looked at his beloved Euridice, who is consequently dragged back to the underworld. The horror of this drives Orfeo to despair as he contemplates life without the wife he has new lost twice over.

Irish National Opera

Extract

Orfeo ed Euridice

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Danza degli spiriti beati

The furies having taken pity on Orfeo and eventually allowing him to pass, he finds himself in the Elysian Fields, a paradise where he believes everyone is in peace except himself, bereft of his beloved Euridice.

Pierre Grosbois

Extract

Orpheus and Eurydice

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Quel est l’audacieux

Act II. The frightening entrance to the Underworld is guarded by spectres and furies (Pygmalion Chorus) who block its passage. Conducted by Raphaël Pichon and directed by Aurélien Bory.