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Details
Exeter Castle
Castle Street
Exeter
Devon
EX4 3PU
England
Programme
Christoph Willibald Gluck – Orfeo ed Euridice
Performers
Iryna Ilnytska – mezzo-soprano
Lisa Moffat – soprano
Anna Townhill – soprano
Ruth Molins – flute
Nicholas Gardiner – piano
Programme Note
The great musician Orfeo mourns the death of his wife Euridice. Amore, the God of Love, tells Orfeo that the gods have granted him permission to journey down to Hades. If he can calm the Furies with his music, he may lead Euridice back to the land of living – on the condition that he never once looks back at her on their journey.
Orfeo appeases the Furies with his music and finds Euridice in Elysium. He begins to lead her back, but she is distressed by his strange behaviour. She faints and Orfeo looks back; Euridice dies in his arms. Amore appears and consoles Orfeo. His fidelity now proven, Euridice may be restored to him. Orfeo, Euridice and Amore celebrate the power of love.
In Orfeo's Illusion we are giving our own interpretation to this beautiful story.
