Organization

Conductor

Antony Hermus

Laurence Cummings

Singer

Soprano

Fflur Wyn

Euridice

Daisy Brown

Amor

Mezzo-soprano

Alice Coote

Orfeo

Polly Leech

Opera North

Orchestra

Orchestra of Opera North

Italian

Orfeo ed Euridice -  (Orpheus and Eurydice)

Salford Quays

United Kingdom

The Lowry

Nottingham

Theatre Royal

Newcastle

Leeds

Grand Theatre

Huddersfield

Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival

An intimate recording of an opera that celebrates the emotional power of music...

During lockdown in early 2021, Opera North recorded Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice for broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Unable to perform live for audiences during Covid-19 restrictions, the Company’s musicians opened the recording process to a camera team instead. The result is a unique glimpse of the enduring passion and artistry of music-making, behind the closed doors of Leeds Town Hall.

Unable to live without his dead wife Euridice, Orfeo journeys to the underworld on a quest to return her to the land of the living. There is one condition: he must not look back as she follows him home, or he will lose her for all eternity.

Gluck’s music pierces straight to the heart throughout: in the terror of Orfeo’s encounter with the Furies; in the tenderness of the pastoral scenes; and, above all, in Orfeo’s great lament for his lost love, ‘Che farò senza Euridice?’ (‘What is life without Euridice?’).

Irish mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy sings the role of Orfeo, with Fflur Wyn as Euridice and Daisy Brown as Amore. Early music specialist Laurence Cummings conducts this recording of a work of unique grace and power.

Sung in Italian. English subtitles can be turned on or off by clicking on the CC (closed captions) button in the video control bar.

Production booklet

Further reading