Monteverdi's L'Orfeo is and remains one of the most important baroque operas of all time. It was certainly the first significant baroque opera with an enormous influence on music history. Bringing a historically informed performance is therefore essential, but certainly not an easy task. Yet Paul Agnew succeeded with flying colours in realizing an authentic, beautifully staged version.
How the spectators felt on 24 January 1607 when they attended the premiere of L'Orfeo in the palace of Mantua we shall never know. It was certainly a completely new concept, and one worked out to perfection at that. To match the feelings of the select audience at the premiere of Monteverdi's first baroque opera, conductor and metteur-en-scène Paul Agnew opts for a musical ensemble that is as historically correct as possible.
Only one singer per voice part, just as was customary with Monteverdi's madrigals, which preceded L'Orfeo. In combination with a small orchestra and a unity of space (only one set), this makes the performance all the more intimate. A splendid choice too to include the musicians as part of the story: in a passage with lute accompaniment, for example, the lutenist sits on stage as a bard and during festivities the violinists and flautists simply walk along with the merry procession.
Anyone as overwhelmed by the magnificent staging as I am will undoubtedly have difficulty finding any points of criticism while watching the DVD recording further. Of course, one singer is more to one's taste than another, but overall there is very little to fault in the performances of the musicians and cast: no exaggerated or unwarranted vibrato (as is regularly the case with opera singers) and strong character portrayals exude a certain calm, especially in combination with the small and beautifully designed set. Cyril Auvity (Orfeo) fits perfectly in his role, which is equally true of his co-protagonist Hannah Morrison, who plays the role of Euridice.
Also particularly strong is Messagiera Lea Desandre. As a messenger, she has the task of constantly bringing bad news to Orfeo in the story, which makes her role all the more complicated and difficult. Furthermore, she also plays the role of Speranza, hope, and must therefore be able to convey both bad and good news while singing, which she undoubtedly succeeds in doing. With his strong but sharp bass voice, Antonio Abete provides a splendid portrayal as Pluto, god of the underworld.
In short, the DVD recording of L'Orfeo by Les Arts Florissants is a gem for the ear and the eye. The beautifully designed staging in combination with the outstanding cast and musicians makes this recording one of the better performances of Monteverdi's original version of L'Orfeo.
- WHAT: L'Orfeo, Claudio Monteverdi
- WHO: Les Arts Florissants conducted by Paul Agnew
- SINGERS: Cyril Auvity (Orfeo), Hannah Morrison (La Musica), Paul Agnew (Apollo/Eco), Miriam Allan (Prosperina/Ninfa), Lea Desandre (Messagiera/Speranza), Carlo Vistoli (Spirito infernale/Pastore), Sean Clayton (Pastore), Zachary Wilder (Spirito infernale/Pastore), Antonio Abete (Plutone/Spirito infernale/Pastore), Cyril Costanzo (Caronte/Spirito infenale)
- RELEASE: Harmonia Mundi (HMD 9809062.63)