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ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE
CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK (1714-1787)
HECTOR BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
Tragic opera in 3 acts, libretto by Ranieri de’Calzabigi
Orpheus Varduhi Abrahamyan Mezzo-Soprano
Eurydice Ingrid PerrucheSoprano
Cupid Maïlys de Villoutreys Soprano
Ballet National de Marseille
Direction and choreography by Frédéric Flamand
Stage sets by Hans Op de Beeck
Choeur Lyrique Saint-Étienne Loire
Orchestre Symphonique Saint-Étienne Loire
Musical director Giuseppe Grazioli
Originally written for an alto castrato, Gluck revised the role of Orpheus for Paris, had it translated from Italian into French and changed it to a tenor, until Pauline Viardot asked Berlioz to write an arrangement for her contralto voice that was more like the original. The dazzling performance of the opera singer on 18 November 1859 ensured the great success of this benchmark version. The story is well known: Orpheus is mourning the death of his Eurydice when Cupid, sent by Jupiter, suggests going to search for her in the Underworld on condition that he appeases the Furies by singing to them, that he does not look at his lover, nor make any excuses to her. This eternal theme has since inspired around twenty operas, Gluck’s Orpheus being mid-way (in time) between Monteverdi’s sublime Orfeo and Offenbach’s hilarious Orpheus in the Underworld. This mythical dimension is the inspiration behind the work of Frédéric Flamand who has agreed to direct an opera for the first time, supported in his resolutely innovative approach by the set designer Hans Op de Beeck, an internationally recognised figure in plastic arts. A first appearance at the Royal Opera by the Ballet de Marseille that will surely make its mark.
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