C. Monteverdi. Orpheus

One of the oldest operas, "Orfeo" by Claudio Monteverdi, performed by the Mediterranean Chapel (Capella Mediterranea) under the direction of Leonardo García Alarcón.

During the period of work on "Orfeo", Claudio Monteverdi already had sufficient experience in composing theatrical music. By that time, he had served for about 16 years at the court of Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga as a performer or arranger of stage music. Gonzaga was one of the most educated people of his time, knew several languages, was well versed in music and poetry, and was a connoisseur of theatrical art. For the production of the opera "Orfeo", the Duke built a theater for 1,000 seats. The premiere of the opera based on the libretto by Alessandro Striggio the Younger took place in Mantua in February 1607.

The opera is presented by the Mediterranean Chapel (Cappella Mediterranea). It was created in 2005 and introduces music lovers from all over the world to rare works of the Baroque era, forgotten scores. The concerts are a mixture of theatrical performance, choreographic performance and vocal show.

Since its foundation, the ensemble has been led by the Argentine conductor and harpsichordist Leonardo Garcia Alarcon.

Nymphs and shepherds celebrate the wedding of Orpheus and Eurydice. The singer enjoys happiness, but soon receives terrible news - Eurydice died from a snake bite while picking flowers. Orpheus is ready to go to the underworld in order to bring back his beloved.

Hope leads Orpheus to the gates of the underworld and leaves him - he must go further alone. Charon refuses to take him across the Styx, remaining indifferent to his pleas. However, Orpheus's singing puts the ferryman to sleep, and he crosses the Styx on his own in a boat. The spirits of the underworld are amazed by the power of this mortal, for whom nothing seems impossible.

Proserpina is touched by Orpheus' suffering, and she persuades her husband to let Eurydice go. But Pluto sets one condition - Eurydice will follow Orpheus if he never looks back. Orpheus sets off on his return journey, but doubts Pluto's honesty: is his beloved really following him? He turns around and loses Eurydice forever. The spirits admit that the singer has overcome the powers of the underworld, but not himself.

Orpheus is overcome with pain from irreversible loss. He vows never to love a woman again and to devote his life to the lyre and singing, with which he will glorify Eurydice. His father, Apollo, invites his son to heaven, where he will ease his grief, gain eternal life and be able to see the face of Eurydice among the stars. Shepherds praise Orpheus, who has ascended to the gods.

PERFORMERS:

Mediterranean Chapel (Cappella Mediterranea)

Conductor - Leonardo García Alarcón

Orpheus - Valerio Contaldo

Eurídice - Francesca Aspromonte

Hope - Giuseppina Bridelli

Pluto - Konstantin Wolff

Proserpina - Anna Reynold

Apollo - Alessandro Gingrande

Basilica of Saint-Denis, Paris, 2017