GLUCK: ORFEO ED EURIDICE

CAST
Euridice  Danielle de Niese
Amor  Heidi Grant Murphy
Orfeo  Stephanie Blythe

Conductor  James Levine
Production  Mark Morris
Set Designer  Allen Moyer
Costume Designer  Isaac Mizrahi
Lighting Designer  James F. Ingalls
Choreographer  Mark Morris

Orfeo ed Euridice (French version: Orphée et Eurydice; English translation: Orpheus and Eurydice) is an opera composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck based on the myth of Orpheus, set to a libretto by Ranieri de' Calzabigi. It belongs to the genre of the azione teatrale, meaning an opera on a mythological subject with choruses and dancing. The piece was first performed at Vienna on October 5, 1762. Orfeo ed Euridice is the first of Gluck's "reform" operas, in which he attempted to replace the abstruse plots and overly complex music of opera seria with a "noble simplicity" in both the music and the drama.

 Though originally set to an Italian libretto, Orfeo ed Euridice owes much to the genre of French opera, particularly in its use of accompanied recitative and a general absence of vocal virtuosity. Indeed, twelve years after the 1762 premiere, Gluck re-adapted the opera to suit the tastes of a Parisian audience at the Académie Royale de Musique with a libretto by Pierre-Louis Moline. This reworking was given the title Orphée et Eurydice, and several alterations were made in vocal casting and orchestration to suit French tastes. The opera is the most popular of Gluck's works.

Synopsis
Act I
Scene 1  - A lonely grove—Euridice’s grave
Nymphs and shepherds lament the death of Euridice, who was bitten by a snake (Chorus: “Ah, se intorno a quest’ urna funesta”). Left alone, Orfeo, Euridice’s husband, adds his voice to the rites (“Chiamo il mio ben così”). Only Echo replies. Orfeo vows to rescue Euridice from the underworld (“Numi! barbari numi”).

Scene 2
Amor, god of love, appears with word that Jove, pitying Orfeo, will allow him to descend into the land of the dead to retrieve Euridice. To make this trial more difficult, Orfeo must neither look at Euridice, nor explain why looking is forbidden. Otherwise he will lose her forever (“Gli sguardi trattieni”). Orfeo agrees and begins his voyage.

Act II
Scene 1  - The Gate of Hades
Furies and ghosts try to deny Orfeo’s passage to the underworld ( “Chi mai dell’Erebo”). His lament softens and placates them. He is eventually allowed to pass through to the Elysian Fields.

Scene 2  - Elysium
Orfeo is moved by the beauty of the landscape (“Che puro ciel, che chiaro sol”). Heroes and heroines bring Euridice to him ( “Torna, o bella, al tuo consorte”). Without looking at her, he takes her away.

Act III
Scene 1  - A dark labyrinth
Orfeo leads Euridice toward the upper world, forbidden to look at her ( “Vieni, segui i miei passi”). Orfeo can’t explain (“Vieni, appaga il tuo consorte!”). Euridice panics at the thought of a life without the love of Orfeo (“Che fiero momento”). In desperation he turns to her. She dies, again. Grief-stricken, Orfeo wonders how he can live without her (“Che farò senza Euridice?”). He decides to kill himself.

Scene 2
Amor reappears and stays Orfeo’s hand. In response to Orfeo’s deep love and devotion, Amor revives Euridice, again. The three return to Earth.

Scene 3  - The Temple of Love
Orfeo, Euridice, Amor, the nymphs, and the shepherds all celebrate the power of love with song and dance (“Trionfi Amore!”).