Gluck: Orfeo Ed Euridice (Napoli 1774) – Philippe Jaroussky, Diego Fasolis WARNER CLASSICS

Philippe Jaroussky (Orfeo), Amanda Forsythe (Euridice), Emőke Baráth (Amore)

Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizzera & I Barocchisti, Diego Fasolis

Star countertenor Philippe Jaroussky continues his exploration of operatic settings of the Orpheus myth with the most famous of the many operas inspired by the story of the Greek poet who searches for his dead wife in the Underworld: Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. It contains one of the world’s best-loved operatic arias, Orfeo’s restrained, but moving lament, ‘Che farò senza Euridice’.

Conducted by Diego Fasolis, his is the world premiere recording of a version of the opera that was performed at the Royal Palace in Naples in 1774, 12 years after Orfeo ed Euridice was staged in Vienna as the first of Gluck’s ‘reform operas’. In these works Gluck emphasised simplicity of form and directness of expression, consciously rejecting the extravagances of opera seria, which dominated the early 18th century and was typified by convoluted plots and extended showpiece arias.

2017 brought the release on Erato of Jaroussky’s own retelling of the myth, La storia di Orfeo, which comprised arias by three Italian composers from the 17th century – Monteverdi, Rossi and Sartorio. His Euridice was the Hungarian soprano Emőke Baráth, who in the Gluck opera moves over to the role of Amor, god of love. Euridice is sung in the new recording by the American soprano Amanda Forsythe, who already features in the Erato catalogue alongside Jaroussky in Agostino Steffani’s opera Niobe, Regina di Tebe.

In addition to La storia di Orfeo, Diego Fasolis has collaborated with Philippe Jaroussky on Erato recordings of Vinci’s Artaserse (audio and video albums), Handel’s Faramondo and Pergolesi’s Stabat mater.

Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30:

1. Sinfonia – Allegro Con Moto
2 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 1: “Ah! Se Intorno a Quest’urna Funesta” (Orfeo, Chorus)
3 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 1: “Basta, Basta, O Compagni!” (Orfeo)
4 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 1: Ballo – Tempo Di Minuè
5 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 1: “Ah! Se Intorno a Quest’urna Funesta” (Bis) [Chorus]
6 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 1: “Chiamo Il Mio Ben Così… Piango Il Mio Ben Così” (Orfeo)
7 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 1: “Numi, Barbari Numi!” (Orfeo)
8 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 1: “T’assiste Amore” (Orfeo, Amore)
9 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 1: “Gli Sguardi Trattieni… Sai Pur Che Talora” (Amore)
10 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 1: “Che Disse? Che Ascoltai?” (Orfeo)
11 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: Ballo Di Furie E Spettri – Maestoso – Un Poco Largo – “Chi Mai Del
12 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Deh Placatevi Con Me” (Orfeo, Chorus)
13 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Misero Giovine!” (Chorus)
14 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Mille Pene” (Orfeo)
15 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Ah Quale Incognito” (Chorus)
16 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Men Tiranne” (Orfeo)
17 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Ah Quale Incognito” (Bis) [Chorus]
18 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: Ballo D’eroi Ed Eroine Negli Elisi – Andantino
19 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Che Puro Ciel!… Euridice Dov’è?” (Orfeo, Chorus)
20 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Vieni A’ Regni Del Riposo” (Chorus)
21 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: Ballo – Andante
22 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Anime Avventurose” (Orfeo, Chorus)
23 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 2: “Torna, O Bella, Al Tuo Consorte” (Chorus)
24 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 3: “Vieni, Segui I Miei Passi… Ch’io Taccia!” (Orfeo, Euridice)
25 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 3: “Vieni, Appaga Il Tuo Consorte… Grande, O Numi” (Orfeo, Euridic
26 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 3: “Qual Vita È Questa Mai” (Orfeo, Euridice)
27 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 3: “Senza Un Addio?… Ah! Crudel” (Euridice)
28 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 3: “Più Frenarmi Non Posso” (Orfeo, Euridice)
29 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 3: “Che Farò Senza Euridice” (Orfeo)
30 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 3: “Ma Finisca, E Per Sempre” (Orfeo)
31 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 3: “Orfeo, Che Fai?” (Orfeo, Euridice, Amore)
32 Orfeo Ed Euridice, WQ. 30, Act 3: “Trionfi Amore!” (Orfeo, Euridice, Amore, Chorus)