Composer

:

Johann Christian Bach

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

before Nov 1774

Publication Date

:

1987

First Performance

:

Nov 4, 1774

Orfeo ed Euridice is an opera composed by Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. The opera was composed in 1762 and premiered in London in 1764. It is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, in which Orpheus, a musician, travels to the underworld to retrieve his wife Eurydice, who has died. The opera is divided into three acts and features a libretto by Ranieri de' Calzabigi. The first act introduces Orfeo, who is mourning the loss of his wife Eurydice. He is visited by Amore, the god of love, who tells him that he can travel to the underworld to retrieve Eurydice. The second act takes place in the underworld, where Orfeo convinces the Furies to let him see Eurydice. He is successful, but is warned not to look at her until they have left the underworld. The third act sees Orfeo struggling with his desire to look at Eurydice, ultimately giving in and causing her to be lost to him forever. The opera is notable for its use of the orchestra, which is given a prominent role throughout the work. Bach's music is characterized by its lyricism and emotional depth, particularly in the arias sung by Orfeo. The opera also features a chorus, which is used to great effect in the second act as the Furies. Orfeo ed Euridice was a popular work in its time and has remained a staple of the operatic repertoire. It has been performed in numerous productions and adaptations, including a famous version by Christoph Willibald Gluck in 1762. Bach's version, however, remains a testament to his skill as a composer and his ability to create music that is both beautiful and emotionally powerful.

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