
Overview
Synopsis
Orphée and his wife Eurydice have grown apart. Orphée’s love of his violin, and of a local shepherd girl, have pulled him away from his wife, and she has sought companionship with the young Aristée, a shepherd who lives next door. However, all is not as it seems. Aristée is actually Pluton, the god of the underworld, in disguise. He has plans to take Eurydice back to the underworld to be his wife, and when she gets bitten by a snake he fakes her death and takes her with him. Orphée rejoices that he is rid of Eurydice, until L’Opinion Publique puts him straight; it is not appropriate to be happy that his wife has been stolen by the god of the underworld, he must go to the underworld to fetch her back.
Meanwhile, the gods on Olympus hear that a mortal woman has been stolen from her husband by a god, and all blame Jupiter. To set the story straight, and with every intention of ensuring that husband and wife are reunited, he takes all of the gods on a day trip to the underworld, where he is transformed into a fly to find and rescue Eurydice. She has quite forgotten about her husband, and agrees to escape with Jupiter, until Pluton spoils their plans. Jupiter lets Eurydice return to Earth with her husband, with one condition: he must not look back at her on their journey out. As they walk, Jupiter sends a lightning bolt at Orphée, and he turns around. Instantly Eurydice disappears. Jupiter has decided neither he nor Pluton can have her, and he transforms Eurydice into a bacchante.
Made infamous by it’s risque Galop Infernal, more commonly known as Offenbach’s Can-can’, this hilarious farce loosely disguises an important satirical commentary on French society. It remains popular with audiences today for its excellent melodies, and timeless humor.
Show Information
- Music
- Jacques Offenbach
- Libretto
- Ludovic Halevy , Hector-Jonathon Crémieux
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1858
- Genres
- Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Period, Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Mythological, The Underworld, Ancient Greece, Olympus
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, College/University, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Elderly Characters, Large Cast
Context
The story of a musician losing a loved one, and attempting to rescue her from the underworld is one that has struck so many composers over the years. In opera format it was first set by Monteverdi in 1607 (L’Orfeo), then was taken by Gluck in 1762 (Orfeo ed Euridice), and later by Haydn in 1791, although Haydn’s L'anima del filosofo was not performed until 1951. While these operas all focus on the tragic journey of Orpheus, and his attempted rescue
to read the context for Orphée aux Enfers and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One - The countryside, near Thebes
The shepherds are returning home, at the twelfth hour, as is the custom (Choeur des bergers ‘Voici la douzième heure’). They stop to let the members of the City Council pass, and to give them respect for continuing their duties in protecting the people (‘Conseil municipal de la ville de Thèbes’). In front of the councillors comes L’Opinion Public (Public Opinion), who introduces herself to the crowd, and to the audience (‘Qui je suis?’). L’Opinion
to read the plot for Orphée aux Enfers and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
---|---|---|---|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor, Treble/Boy Soprano |
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass, Baritone |
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
There are two versions of this opera which are both still regularly performed, and often combined. Please refer to the Context section for more information. A breakdown of both editions is given below.
1858 2-Act Version
Overture
Act 1
Scene 1
-
‘Qui je suis?’ - L’Opinion Publique
-
Duet ‘Ah! C’est ainsi!’ - Orphée, Eurydice
-
‘La mort m'apparaît souriante’ - Eurydice
-
‘C’est l’Opinion publique’ - L’Opinion publique, Orphée, Chorus
-
‘Viens! C’est l’honneur qui t’appelle!’ - L’Opinion publique, Orphée, Chorus
Scene 2
-
Entr’acte
-
Choeur du sommeil "Dormons, dormons" – Chorus
-
‘Je suis Cupidon’ – Cupidon, Vénus
-
‘Par Saturne, quel est ce bruit’ - Jupiter, Chorus
-
‘Quand Diane descend dans la plaine’ - Diane, Chorus
-
‘Aux armes, dieux et demi-dieux!’ - Diane, Vénus, Cupidon, Jupiter, Pluton, Chorus
-
Rondeau des métamorphoses ‘Pour séduire Alcmène la fière’ - Diane, Cupidon, Vénus and Chorus
-
‘Il approche! Il s'avance!’ - Pluton, Les dieux, L'Opinion publique, Jupiter, Orphée, Mercure, Cupidon, Diane, Vénus
-
‘Gloire! gloire à Jupiter ... Partons, partons’ Pluton, Les dieux, L'Opinion publique, Orphée, Jupiter, Mercure, Vénus, Cupidon, Diane
Act 2
Scene 1
-
Entr’acte
-
‘Quand j'étais roi de Béotie’ - John Styx
-
Duo de la mouche ‘Il m'a semblé sur mon épaule’ - Eurydice, Jupiter
-
Finale ‘Bel insecte à l'aile dorée’ - Eurydice, Pluton, John Styx
Scene 2
-
Entr’acte
-
‘Vive le vin! Vive Pluton!’ – Chorus
-
‘Allons ! ma belle bacchante’ - Cupidon
-
‘J'ai vu le Dieu Bacchus’ - Eurydice, Diane, Vénus, Cupidon, Chorus
-
Menuet et Galop ‘Maintenant, je veux, moi qui suis mince et fluet … Ce bal est original, d'un galop infernal’ - Tutti
-
Finale ‘Ne regarde pas en arrière’ - L'Opinion publique, Jupiter, Les dieux, Orphée, Eurydice
1878 4-Act Version
Overture
Act 1
-
Choeur des bergers ‘Voici la douzième heure’ - Chorus
-
‘Conseil municipal de la ville de Thèbes’ - Chorus
-
‘Qui je suis?’ - L’Opinion publique
-
Couplets du berger joli ‘La femme dont le coeur reve’ - Eurydice
-
Duet ‘Ah! C’est ainsi!’ - Orphée, Eurydice
-
Ballet Pastoral
-
‘Moi, je suis Aristée’ - Aristée
-
‘La mort m'apparaît souriante’ - Eurydice, Aristée
-
‘Libre! O bonheur’ - Orphée, Chorus
-
‘C’est l’Opinion publique’ - L’Opinion publique, Orphée, Chorus
-
Valse des petits violonistes ‘Adieu maestro’ - Orphée, Chorus
-
‘Viens! C’est l’honneur qui t’appelle!’ - L’Opinion publique, Orphée, Chorus
Act 2
-
Entr’acte
-
Choeur du sommeil ‘Dormons, dormons’ – Chorus
-
‘Je suis Vénus’ – Cupidon, Vénus, Mars
-
Divertissement des songes et des heures ‘Tzing, tzing tzing’ - Morphée, Chorus
-
‘Par Saturne, quel est ce bruit’ - Jupiter, Chorus
-
‘Quand Diane descend dans la plaine’ - Diane, Chorus
-
Air en prose de Pluton ‘Comme il me regarde! - Pluton
-
‘Aux armes, dieux et demi-dieux!’ - Diane, Vénus, Cupidon, Jupiter, Pluton, Chorus
-
Rondeau des métamorphoses ‘Pour séduire Alcmène la fière’ - Diane, Minerve, Cybèle, Pomone, Vénus, Flore, Cérès, Chorus
-
‘Il approche! Il s'avance!’ - Pluton, Les dieux, L'Opinion publique, Jupiter, Orphée, Mercure, Cupidon, Diane, Vénus
-
‘Gloire! gloire à Jupiter ... Partons, partons’ Pluton, Les dieux, L'Opinion publique, Orphée, Jupiter, Mercure, Vénus, Cupidon, Diane
Act 3
-
Entr’acte
-
‘Ah! quelle triste destinée!’ - Eurydice
-
‘Quand j'étais roi de Béotie’ - John Styx
-
‘Minos, Eaque et Rhadamante’ - Minos, Eaque, Rhadamante, Bailiff, Cerbère
-
‘Nez au vent, oeil au guet’ - Policemen
-
‘Allons, mes fins limiers’ - Cupidon, Policemen
-
‘Le beau bourdon que voilà’ - Policemen
-
Duo de la mouche ‘Il m'a semblé sur mon épaule’ - Eurydice, Jupiter
-
Finale ‘Bel insecte à l'aile dorée’ - Pluton, John Styx, Les Enfants, Cupidon
Act 4
-
Entr’acte
-
‘Vive le vin! Vive Pluton!’ – Chorus
-
‘Allons ! ma belle bacchante’ - Cupidon
-
‘J'ai vu le Dieu Bacchus’ - Eurydice, Diane, Vénus, Cupidon, Chorus
-
Menuet et Galop ‘Maintenant, je veux, moi qui suis mince et fluet … Ce bal est original, d'un galop infernal’ - Tutti
-
Finale ‘Ne regarde pas en arrière’ - L'Opinion publique, Jupiter, Les dieux, Orphée, Eurydice
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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