When it was first unveiled in 1762, Christoph Willibald Gluck's operatic version of the titular Greek myth—about a musician who travels to Hades in order to bring his wife back to life through his artistry—represented a reform of lyric tragedy, subjugating vocal pyrotechnics (which had long dominated) in favor of dramatic effect. This 2011 mounting, from the Festival Castell de Peralada outside Barcelona, adds a further modern tweak, with laser lights, rear-stage projections, and acrobatics overpowering Gluck's serene, limpid score. While the extravagant visual display—courtesy of Carlus Padrissa of the Catalan troupe La Fura dels Baus, previously responsible for the well-received Valencia production of Wagner's Ring Cycle (see review of Das Rheingold in VL-5/10)—is excessive, this mounting does boast musical strengths. Anita Rachvelishvili exhibits an opulent if sometimes overly vibrato-laden tone as Orfeo, and while sopranos Maite Alberola (Euridice) and Auxiliadora Toledano (Amore) are not her equal, they are certainly solid. Although the Orquesta bandArt plays well under concertmaster Gordon Nikolic, the decision to dress its members in extremely unflattering leotards and have them waltz around as part of the onstage action makes it nigh impossible to maintain absolute cohesion. Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and LPCM stereo, this is an uneven production in which overpowering spectacle renders Gluck almost irrelevant. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)
Orfeo ed Euridice
(2011) 110 min. DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99. Kultur International Films (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 978-0-7697-9197-5. Volume 27, Issue 6
Orfeo ed Euridice
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