Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s La descente d’Orphée aux enfers.
A Vache Baroque Production.
Step into a world where love defies even the boundaries of life and death. Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s baroque opera opens with the wedding of Orphée and Euridice. The celebrations are in full swing when tragedy strikes and Euridice is fatally bitten by a snake. Orphée holds her as she slips away, leaving him devastated and ready to follow her into death. But his father Apollon (the god Apollo) suggests another option. Orphée can brave the underworld to bring Euridice back. Armed only with the power of his voice, he must sway the gods to reclaim his lost love, whilst testing his resolve to the limits.
La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers is a gem in baroque opera, composed for an ensemble and small orchestra. It is stylishly brought to life by Vache Baroque, a dynamic and innovative period ensemble with a passion for championing rarely heard music.
Music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The libretto, whose author is unknown, is based on the myth of Orpheus as told in Book 10 of the Metamorphoses, Ovid.
Sung in French with English surtitles.
Duration: 1 hour and 25 minutes including an interval.
Vache Baroque are grateful for the support of Continuo Foundation, which has enabled the extended rehearsal period required for this exciting fully-staged production.
CREATIVE TEAM
Jonathan Darbourne Music Director
Jeanne Pansard-Besson Director
Simeon Qsyea Choreographer
Laura Jane Stanfield Designer
Finn Lacey Assistant Director
Josie Ireland Associate Lighting Designer
Hervé Goffings French Coach
CAST
Gwilym Bowen Orphée
James Geidt Pluton
Betty Makharinsky Euridice
Naho Koizumi Daphné
Katie-Louise Dobson Enone
Frances Gregory Arethuze/Proserpine
Francis Gush Ixion
Lars Fischer Tantale
Michael Roche Apollon/Tityé
Fi Silverthorn Dancer
Kenji Matsunaga Dancer
‘Sophisticated charm’ – The Stage
‘Dramatic vividness and energy’– Opera Today
‘Aesthetically pleasing, imaginative and well-crafted staging’ – Opera Wire
