Description
Monteverdi - L'Orfeo | Opus Arte 2 DVD Set
UPC: 0809478009283
Product Features
- Composer: Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
- Conductor: Stephen Stubbs
- Stage Director: Pierre Audi
- Featuring:Orchestra: Tragicomedia and Concerto Palatino
- Orfeo: John Mark Ainsley
- Euridice: Juanita Lascarro
- La Musica: David Cordier
- La Speranza: Michael Chance
- La Messagiera: Brigitte Balleys
- Apollo: Russell Smythe
- Caronte: Mario Luperi
- Running Time: Approx. 135 minutes
- Audio Format: LPCM Stereo
- Picture Format: 16:9 Anamorphic, PAL
- Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch
- Region Code: 0 (All Regions)
- Label: Opus Arte
Overview
Experience Claudio Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, a masterpiece of Baroque opera, in this stunning production directed by Pierre Audi. Recorded live in 1997 at De Nederlandse Opera, this performance features a commanding interpretation of Orfeo by John Mark Ainsley, who leads an inspired cast. Monteverdi’s timeless tale of love, loss, and redemption is set against Audi's evocative stage design, filled with rich symbolism and solemn elegance.
Conductor Stephen Stubbs leads the period ensemble Tragicomedia and Concerto Palatino, bringing authenticity and beauty to Monteverdi’s score. This production of L'Orfeo captures the emotional depth and tragic grandeur of the original opera, making it an unforgettable viewing experience for Baroque music enthusiasts.
Interesting Facts
- L'Orfeo, composed in 1607, is one of the earliest operas still regularly performed today, widely regarded as a milestone in the history of opera.
- This production by Pierre Audi incorporates his signature use of symbolism, enhancing the mythological themes of the opera, such as Orfeo’s journey to the underworld in search of Euridice.
- John Mark Ainsley, an acclaimed tenor, is celebrated for his portrayal of Orfeo, combining both emotional intensity and technical mastery in his performance.
- Tragicomedia and Concerto Palatino, under Stephen Stubbs, specialize in historically informed performances, utilizing period instruments to bring an authentic Baroque sound to the opera.
- The TV recording of this performance was a co-production between NPS Television and De Nederlandse Opera, with support from the Dutch Cultural Broadcasting Promotion Fund.
Track Listing
Disc 1:
- Act I: La Musica’s Prologue
- Act I: Orfeo and Euridice’s Love
- Act II: The Arrival of La Messagiera
Disc 2:
- Act III: Orfeo’s Descent into the Underworld
- Act IV: Orfeo’s Lament
- Act V: Apollo’s Consolation
Extra Features
- Illustrated Synopsis – A visual guide to the plot of L'Orfeo.
- Cast Gallery – Photos and biographies of the principal cast.
- Introduction to the Opera – Including interviews with Stephen Stubbs, Pierre Audi, and John Mark Ainsley, providing insights into the production and its interpretation of Monteverdi’s work.
Publishers
- Opus Arte
- De Nederlandse Opera
- NPS Television
