Gluck: Orfeo & Euridice

by Jakub Józef Orliski, Elsa Dreisig, Fatma Said, Stefan Plewniak

Overview

Christoph Willibald Gluck wrote several versions of the opera Orfeo ed Euridice for different voices in the lead role of Orfeo. Heard here is the original version of 1762, composed for a castrato (just before that grim practice began to fall out of favor) and here sung by the highly charismatic young countertenor Jakub Józef Orli¿ski. The production is his show, and he explains his motivations in an elegant booklet note. The opera was recorded (and recorded well at a Warsaw radio studio) in Poland, with a Polish early music ensemble and choir, and one should also mention the distinctive graphic design. The only non-Poles involved are the other two soloists, Elsa Dreisig as the rather quarrelsome Euridice and Fatma Said as Amore. The results are superb. Orli¿ski has the heft to suggest the effect of a castrato, and his voice is approaching its peak, but the key is the dramatic insight he is developing. Orfeo ed Euridice is the 18th century "reform" opera par excellence, with the natural realization of the plot replacing fiery set pieces. There are no secco recitatives, and many of the arias are broken up into sections to give the effect of realistic expression. Orli¿ski's weightings of these sections are ideal. When he bewails the loss of Euridice at the beginning, one really feels it. His voice is also a perfect match for Dreisig's, and the similarity of sound contributes to the impact. Orfeo ed Euridice is more often sung in its later versions for Parma and Paris, and this welcome release should bolster the fortunes of the original; for listeners new to the countertenor voice, it may be highly recommended. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	08/09/2024
Label:	ERATO
UPC:	5054197897535

Tracks

1. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Sinfonia
2. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto primo. Scena I: Ah! se intorno a quest' urna funesta
3. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto primo. Scena I: Basta, basta, o compagni!
4. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto primo. Scena I: Ballo dei Pastori e Delle Ninfe
5. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto primo. Scena I: Ah! se intorno a quest'urna funesta
6. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto primo. Scena I: Chiamo il mio ben così
7. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto primo. Scena I: Numi! barbari Numi!
8. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto primo. Scena II:T'assiste Amore!
9. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto primo. Scena II: Gli sguardi trattieni
10. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto primo. Scena II: Che disse? Che ascoltai?
11. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto secondo. Scena I: Ballo di Furie e Spettri - Chi mai dell'Erebo - Mille pene
12. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto secondo. Scena II: Ballo D'eroi ed Eroine Negli Elisi
13. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto secondo. Scena II: Che puro ciel!
14. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto secondo. Scena II: Vieni a' regni del riposo
15. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto secondo. Scena II: Ballo
16. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto secondo. Scena II: Anime avventurose - Torna, o bella
17. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Scena I: Vieni, segui i miei passi
18. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Scena I: Vieni, appaga il tuo consorte!
19. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Scena I: Qual vita è questa mai
20. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Scena I: Che fiero momento!
21. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Scena I: Ecco un nuovo tormento!
22. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Scena I: Che farò senza Euridice?
23. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Scena I: Ah finisca e per sempre
24. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Scena II: Orfeo, che fai?
25. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Scena III: Sinfonia
26. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Ballo: I. Grazioso
27. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Ballo: II. Allegro
28. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Ballo: III. Andante
29. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Ballo: IV. Allegro
30. Orfeo & Euridice, opera~Atto terzo. Ballo: Trionfi Amore!

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fatma Said   Primary Artist,Soprano (Vocal)
Jakub Józef Orli¿ski   Primary Artist,Counter Tenor (Vocal)
Elsa Dreisig   Primary Artist,Soprano (Vocal)
Stefan Plewniak   Primary Artist,Conductor
Il Giardino d'Amore   Orchestra,Choir/Chorus
Il Giardino d'Amore Vocal Ensemble   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Raniero de Calzabigi   Librettist
Andreas Kuehner   Liner Note Translation
Saul Lipetz   Liner Note Translation
Stefan Plewniak   Liner Notes,Artistic Director,Recording Producer
Jakub Józef Orli¿ski   Liner Notes,Artistic Director,Recording Producer
Honorata Karapuda   Design,Photography
Alain Lanceron   Executive Producer
Jean-Francois Lattarico   Liner Notes
Gabriela Wilczynska   Cover Art
Francis Marchal   Liner Note Translation
Christoph Willibald Gluck   Composer
Mateusz Banasiuk   Engineer
Ewa Kania   Stylist