Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice

Composer Christoph Willibald Gluck
Artist Grace Bumbry mezzo soprano
Anneliese Rothenberger soprano
Ruth-Margret Pütz soprano
Leipzig Radio Choir
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Václav Neumann conductor
Format 2 CD
Cat. number 94703
EAN code 5028421947037
Release October 2013

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About this release

Christoph Willibald Gluck is one of the great reformers of opera, departing from the tried and tested genres of opera seria in the 18th century: Metastasio’s drama per musica and Rameau’s tragédie lyrique. Gluck sought to restore dramatic truth to musical theatre, dispensing with long, virtuosic arias simply written to play to performers’ vanity, and providing a greater musical and dramatic coherence to his operas. His focus on clarity, simplicity and the return to nature is perfectly exemplified in his great work, Orfeo ed Euridice, the first of his ‘reform’ operas. The work owes much to the style of French opera, with its accompanied recitative and simple vocal lines.

This historic recording from 1966 features a young Grace Bumbry, who was recognised at the Kennedy Centre Honours in 2009 as a defining figure in American arts and culture. Also featuring internationally renowned conductor Václav Neumann, the recording is an acclaimed interpretation of one of Gluck’s best-loved works.

Other information:
- Includes plot synopsis and liner notes on the composer and work.
- Sung texts available by clicking on 'Download booklet' below the cover.

Track list

Disk 1

  1. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice: Overture
  2. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Chorus “Ah, se intorno a quest’ urna funesta” (Chorus, Orfeo)
  3. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Recitative “Baste, basta, o compagni!” (Orfeo)
  4. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Dance
  5. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Chorus “Ah, se intorno a quest’ urna funesta
  6. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Aria “Chaimo il mio ben così” (Orfeo)
  7. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Recitative “Euridice, ombra cara” (Orfeo)
  8. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Aria “Cerco il mio ben così” (Orfeo)
  9. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Recitative “Euridice! Euridice!” (Orfeo)
  10. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Aria “Piango il mio ben così” (Orfeo)
  11. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 1: Recitative “Numi! barbari Numi” (Orfeo)
  12. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 2: Recitative “T’assiste Amore!” (Amore, Orfeo)
  13. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 2: Aria “Gli sguardi trattieni” (Amore)
  14. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 1 Scene 2: Recitative “Che disse? Che ascoltai?” (Orfeo)
  15. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: Dance
  16. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: Chorus “Chi mai dell’ Erebo fralle caligini” (Chorus)
  17. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: Dance
  18. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: Chorus “Chi mai dell’ Erebo fralle caligni” (Chorus)
  19. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: “Deh placatevi con me” (Chorus, Orfeo)
  20. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: Chorus “Misero giovane, che voui, che mediti?” (Chorus)
  21. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: Aria “Mille pene” (Orfeo)
  22. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: Chorus “Ah, quale incognito affetto flebile” (Chorus)
  23. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: Aria “Men tiranne, ah! voi sareste” (Orfeo)
  24. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 1: Chorus “Ah, quele incognito affetto flebile” (Chorus)
  25. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 2: Dance
  26. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 2: Arioso “Che puro ciel” (Orfeo, Chorus)
  27. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 2: Chorus “Vieni a’ regni del riposo” (Chorus)
  28. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 2: Dance
  29. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 2: Recitative “Anime avventurose” (Orfeo, Chorus)
  30. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2 Scene 2: Chorus “Torna, o bella, al tuo consorte” (Chorus)

Disk 2

  1. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 1: Recitative “Vieni, segui i miei passi” (Orfeo, Euridice)
  2. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 1: Duet “Vieni appage il tuo consorte” (Orfeo, Euridice)
  3. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 1: Recitative “Qual vita è questa mai” (Euridice)
  4. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 1: Aria “Che fiero momento” (Euridice)
  5. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 1: Recitative “Ecco un nuovo tormento!” (Orfeo, Euridice)
  6. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 1: Aria “Che farò senza Euridice?” (Orfeo)
  7. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 1: Recitative “Ah finisca e per sempre” (Orfeo)
  8. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 2: Recitative “Orfeo, che fai?” (Amore, Orfeo)
  9. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 3: Maestoso
  10. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 3: Dance. Grazioso – Allegro – Andante – Allegro
  11. Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 3 Scene 3: Chorus “Tronfi Amore” (Orfeo, Amore, Euridice, Chorus)