L'Orfeo - Favola in Musica

After many years of loneliness and lamenting, the musician Orfeo can now sing songs of joy. Today he is marrying the love of his life; Euridice. But tragedy strikes and ruins not only a perfect day, but the rest of Orfeo’s life. Euridice is bitten by a venomous snake, and dies in moments. Orfeo’s heart is shattered. He vows to rescue her from the underworld, or to remain with her there forever. Armed only with his lyre and his beautiful voice, he ventures into the unknown.

The king of the underworld, Plutone, permits Euridice to return with Orfeo, but on one condition: he must not look back. Until they reach the land of the living, Orfeo must look ahead of him at all times, the slightest glance backwards and Euridice’s is lost forever.

This beautiful story of love and loss, that has been told many times, over many centuries, is made even more painful and tragic by Monterverdi’s elegant score.

Toccata

Prologue

• ‘Dal mio Permesso amato’ - La Musica

Act 1

• ‘In questo lieto e fortunato’ - Pastore I

• ‘Vieni, Imeneo’ - Chorus

• ‘Muse, honor di Parnaso’ - Una Ninfa

• ‘Lasciate i monti’ - Chorus

• ‘Ma tu, gentil cantor’ - Pastore II

• ‘Rosa del ciel’ - Orfeo

• ‘Io non dirò qual sia’ - Euridice

• ‘Lasciate i monti’ - Chorus

• ‘Vieni, Imeneo’ - Chorus

• ‘Ma s’il nostro gioir dal ciel deriva’ - Pastore I

• ‘Alcun non sia’ - Pastore I, Pastore II

• ‘Che poi che nembo’ - Chorus

• ‘E dopo l’aspro’ - Una Ninfa, Pastore II

• ‘Ecco Orfeo’ - Chorus

Act 2

• ‘Ecco pur ch’a voi ritorno’ - Orfeo

• ‘Mira, ch’a se n’alletta l’ombra Orfeo’ - Pastore I

• ‘In questo prato adorno’ - Pastore I, Pastore II

• ‘Dunque fa degno, Orfeo’ - Chorus

• ‘Vi ricorda, o bosch’ombrosi’ - Orfeo

• ‘Mira, deh, miro Orfeo’ - Un Pastore

• ‘Ahi caso acerbo’ - La Messaggiera, Pastore I, Orfeo

• ‘Ahi, caso acerbo’ - Pastore I, Pastore II

• ‘Tu se’ morta’ - Orfeo

• ‘Ahi caso acerbo’ - Chorus

• ‘Ma io ch’in questa lingua’ - La Messaggiera

• ‘Chi ne consola, ahi lassi?’ - Pastore I, Pastore II, Chorus

Act 3

• ‘Scorto da te, mio Nume’ - Orfeo

• ‘Ecco l’altra palude’ - Speranza

• ‘Dove, ah, dove te’n vai’ - Orfeo

• ‘O tu, ch’innanzi mort’ a queste rive’ - Caronte

• ‘Possente spirto’ - Orfeo

• ‘Ben mi lusinga al quanto’ - Caronte

• ‘Ahi, sventurato amante’ - Orfeo

• ‘Ei dorme, e la mia cetra’ - Orfeo

• ‘Nulla impresa per huom’ - Chorus

Act 4

• ‘Signor, quel infelice’ - Proserpina

• ‘Benche se vero’ - Plutone

• ‘O degli habitator’ - Spirito I

• ‘Trara da quest’ orribili caverne’ - Spirito II

• ‘Quali gratie ti rendo’ - Proserpina

• ‘Tue soavi parole’ - Plutone

• ‘Pietade offi et amore trionfan’ - Chorus, Spirito I

• ‘Qual honor di te fia degno’ - Orfeo

• ‘Ma che odo?’ - Orfeo, Euridice, Spirito I

• ‘E la virtute un raggio’ - Chorus

Act 5

• ‘Questi i campi di Traccia’ - Orfeo, Eco

• ‘Perch’ a lo sdegno’ - Apollo, Orfeo

• ‘Saliam, cantand’ al cielo’ - Orfeo, Apollo

• ‘Vanne, Orfeo, felice a pieno’ - Chorus