Orfeo ed Euridice

Christoph Willibald Gluck

When Gluck returned to the fable of Orfeo, he also undertook to rewrite the existing conventions of opera. He decided to focus on the plot in all its power, cohesion and richness, which he believed should be in perfect harmony with the musical score. This premise gave rise to an innovative work with an incredible wealth of ballets and choruses which radiate luminous beauty while “revising” past forms. Robert Carsen's approach involves removing all overt references to time in order to underscore the universality of the work and to showcase the music and singing.