Orpheus sings his way to the underworld in pursuit of his wife Euridice, overcoming all obstacles by the power of his voice. He finds her but loses her again. How long do we grieve a loved one? How long do we hear their voice echoing after they have gone?
In 1607, Claudio Monteverdi created his Orfeo, for the Carnival opening at the Court Theatre of Duke Vincenzo I in Mantua. Billed as a ‘musical fable’, here was a new form where characters are brought to life with poignant human feelings. Orfeo’s dramatic power gave birth to what we call opera today. As in the original performance in an intimate space in Mantua, Garsington’s summer 2022 production sees the singers and musicians very close; the instrumentalists are part of the action, onstage and visible. Early music specialist Laurence Cummings conducts the musicians of The English Concert. Arielle Smith choreographs singers and dancers; the chorus is a constant presence and critical to the storytelling. Ecstatically received by audiences and critics alike, here is an evening to do justice Monteverdi's genius and power to encapsulate the human condition through music, movement and song.
Streamed on OperaVision on 21 October 2022 at 19:00 CET and available until 20 April 2023:
operavision.eu/performance/or...
CAST
Orfeo
Ed Lyon
Messenger
Diana Montague
Music (La Musica)
Claire Lees
Hope (La Speranza)
Laura Fleur
Euridice
Zoe Drummond
Charon
Frazer Scott
Pluto
Ossian Huskinson
Persephone
Lauren Joyanne Morris
Nymph
Anna Cavaliero
Solo Shepherds and Spirits
Georgia Mae Bishop
Florian Panzieri
David Horton
Richard Pinkstone
Dafydd Jones
Philippe Durrant
Michael Bell
Joe Chalmers
Spirits of the Dance
Amber Doyle (Dance Captain)
Maddy Brennan
Benjamin Derham
Annie Joy Edwards
Cameron Everitt
Emily Gunn
Chorus
Garsington Opera Chorus
Orchestra
The English Concert
Music
Claudio Monteverdi
Text
Alessandro Striggio
Conductor
Laurence Cummings
Director
John Caird
Sets and costumes
Robert Jones
Lighting
Paul Pyant
Choreographer
Arielle Smith
Assistant Conductor
Christopher Bucknall
Assistant Director
Rebecca Meltzer
Chorus Director
Jonathon Cole-Swinard
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