The "Orfeo ed Euridice" (Orpheus and Eurydice) is an
opera composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck based on
the myth of Orpheus and set to a libretto by Ranieri
de' Calzabigi.
Gluck's "Orfeo and Euredice", one of the turning points
in the history of opera, received its premiere in
Vienna on 5th October 1762. "Beautiful simplicity" was
the phrase used by Gluck and his librettist Ranieri de
Calzabigi for what they had set out to achieve, and the
work without doubt offered the clearest chall...(+)
The "Orfeo ed Euridice" (Orpheus and Eurydice) is an
opera composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck based on
the myth of Orpheus and set to a libretto by Ranieri
de' Calzabigi.
Gluck's "Orfeo and Euredice", one of the turning points
in the history of opera, received its premiere in
Vienna on 5th October 1762. "Beautiful simplicity" was
the phrase used by Gluck and his librettist Ranieri de
Calzabigi for what they had set out to achieve, and the
work without doubt offered the clearest challenge yet
seen or heard to the moribund conventions of Italian
"opera seria". Musically it proved to be a work of
unparalleled directness, concise in its effects, plain
in its speech, overwhelming in its impact.
The subject of the opera is the Orpheus of Greek
mythology, the famous poet and singer who could charm
wild animals with his music. When his wife Euradice
died he followed her to Hades and won her back by his
art with the condition that he should not look at her
until he reached the world again. (He did, with
predictably disastrous consequences!)
The Dance of the Blessed Spirits occurs in Act 2 of the
opera, and consists of a 'roundelay' for strings with
two flutes floating above the melody, a tune which
nobody who has once heard it is likely to forget. The
calm contemplative beauty of the Elysian Fields is
perfectly captured by this music which is both tranquil
yet at the same time seems to be somehow threaded with
melancholy.
Although originally written for orchestra, I created
this Interpretation for Flute & Strings (2 Violins,
Viola & Cello).
SHEET MUSIC