Overview
Synopsis
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.
Show Information
- Music
- Claudio Monteverdi
- Libretto
- Alessandro Striggio (The Younger)
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1607
- Genres
- Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Historical/Biographical, Tragedy
- Settings
- Period, Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Mythological, Ancient Greece, Hades, The Underworld
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- Optional
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, College/University, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Large Cast
Context
The legend of Orpheus, a musician who tries to use music to rescue his dead wife from the underworld, is a popular subject with opera composers. Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo is one of the oldest operas in existence that features this story, and remains popular with audiences over 400 years after its premiere.
While Monteverdi and his librettist Striggio tried to stay as true to the Orpheus legend as they can, they nevertheless managed to appease the Italian censors. The strict censorship of Italy’s
to read the context for L'Orfeo - Favola in Musica and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue
La Musica introduces herself; she is Music, who across all of history has been able to calm troubled hearts, and fill people with love (‘Dal mio Permesso amato’). Now she feels obliged to tell the story of Orfeo, the legendary musician who was able to charm wild beasts with his singing, and who overcame the underworld with his beautiful voice.
Act One
A shepherd calls out to his fellow shepherds, asking
to read the plot for L'Orfeo - Favola in Musica and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Toccata
Prologue
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
-
‘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
-
‘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
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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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.