List of Orphean operas

Operas based on the Orphean myths, and especially the story of Orpheus' journey to the underworld to rescue his wife, Eurydice, were amongst the earliest examples of the art form and continue to be written into the 21st century. Orpheus, the Greek hero whose songs could charm both gods and wild beasts and coax the trees and rocks into dance, has achieved an emblematic status as a metaphor for the power of music. The following is an annotated list of operas (and works in related genres) based on his myth. The works are listed with their composers and arranged by date of first performance. In cases where the opera was never performed, the approximate date of composition is given.

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

• 2001 – Jonathan Dove – L'altra Euridice, a 30-minute opera in one act for baritone and ensemble, based on a story by Italo Calvino, which retells the Orphean myth from the perspective of Pluto, god of the underworld.
• 2009 – Harrison Birtwistle – The Corridor, a 48-minute chamber opera for two singers and small ensemble.
• 2014 – Christina Pluhar – Orfeo Chamán, a neo-Baroque operatic adaption of the Orpheus myth, featuring styles from Mexico, Venezuela and Bulgaria.
• 2015 – John Robertson – Orpheus, an hour-long masque in six scenes commissioned and performed by Rousse State Opera
• 2020 – Matthew Aucoin – Eurydice, a three-act opera in English with libretto by Sarah Ruhl based on her play of the same name, premiered at the Los Angeles Opera
• 2022 - Jasdeep Singh Degun - Orpheus: Music by Claudio Monteverdi and Jasdeep Singh Degun, composed for 9 western classical voices, 9 Indian classical voices, baroque ensemble and Indian classical ensemble, commissioned by Opera North and SAA-uk.

References

Notes

Sources

• Agnew, Vanessa, Enlightenment Orpheus: The Power of Music in Other Worlds, Oxford University Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-19-533666-5.
• Rosand, Ellen, "Opera: III. Early opera, 1600–90", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed via subscription 27 April 2010)
• Spencer, Neil, "Anais Mitchell: Hadestown", The Observer, 25 April 2010 (accessed 27 April 2010)
• Sternfeld, Frederick W., "Orpheus", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed via subscription 15 August 2007)
• Whenham, John, Claudio Monteverdi, Orfeo, Cambridge University Press, 1986. ISBN 0-521-28477-5

External links

• Reinhard Kapp, Chronological list of theatrical, musical, literary, and film works based on the Orpheus myth (in German)