Orpheus and Eurydice
Orpheus and Eurydice
EUROPEAN PREMIERE
Journey to the underworld and back with Opera Australia, presenting Opera Queensland’s production of Orpheus and Eurydice in association with Circa.
Heartbroken Orpheus has the chance to rescue his wife Eurydice from the underworld. But there's one condition: he mustn’t look at her during their long journey home. Can he resist the temptation to gaze into his true love’s eyes?
Soaring vocals, hypnotic visuals and acrobatic feats plunge you into an ancient tale of love, lust and loss. Gramophone Award-winning countertenor Iestyn Davies stars as Orpheus, haunted by visions of Eurydice, performed by Australian soprano Samantha Clarke. As Orpheus descends into insanity, Eurydice’s own descent into the underworld takes magnificent, aerial form.
Circa joins with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a chorus from Scottish Opera for the European premiere of this electrifying production of Gluck’s seminal opera.
Supported by James and Morag Anderson
with additional support from Vivienne and Robin Menzies
Programme
Gluck Composer
Calzabigi Librettist
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Laurence Cummings Conductor
Yaron Lifschitz Director & Set Designer
Yaron Lifschitz, Bridie Hooper & Circa Ensemble Choreographers
Alexander Berlage Lighting Designer
Libby McDonnell Costume Designer
Boris Bagattini Video Designer
Chorus from Scottish Opera
Susannah Wapshott Chorus Director
Iestyn Davies Orpheus
Samantha Clarke Eurydice / Amor
Edinburgh International Festival and Opera Australia present Opera Queensland’s Production of Orpheus and Eurydice in Association with Circa
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Opera Queensland and Circa acknowledge the assistance of the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
