An operatic adaptation of the Orpheus myth had already been in circulation for 150 years when Gluck decided to turn it into an opera of his own in the 18th century. The tale of the lute player Orpheus's decent into the underworld to bring his dead wife back to the living, provided the plot for Monteverdi's Orfeo, largely considered to be first opera ever written. This week World of Opera presents Gluck's richly orchestrated version, Orphée et Eurydice.
Juan Diego Flórez and Lucy Crowe star as the title characters, and Amanda Forsythe sings the role of Amor in this production from Covent Garden. John Eliot Gardiner conducts the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, and Lisa Simeone hosts the broadcast.
Listen to World of Opera on the Operavore stream each week at WQXR.org. The program streams Thursdays at 4 pm, Saturdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 1 pm.
Cast:
Orpheus: Juan Diego Flórez (tenor)
Eurydice: Lucy Crowe (soprano)
Amor: Amanda Forsythe (soprano)
Monteverdi Choir
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner, conductor