Gluck - Orfeo ed Euridice / Haenchen, Kowalski, Webster, Royal Opera Covent Garden

I have loved this performance since I first saw it on VHS a number of years ago. Astonishing, brilliant production, with great singing and acting by Jochen Kowalski (countertenor) as Orfeo. Hallucinatory, insightful sets. The appearance of Amor as a very little boy in shorts with a basketball he and Kowalski carefully toss back and forth, with Amor's lines sung with crystalline beauty by Jeremy Budd (boy soprano--who is visible at the side of the stage in tuxedo) is a supreme and touching delight. Numerous other scenes in this version by Harry Kupfer are also both delightful and extremely moving. Lovely singing by soprano Webster Gillian as Eurydice, and a sensitive performance by the Royal Opera House and Chorus conducted by Helmut Haenchen (live performance at Covent Garden). A gem. Note that a fine performance with Kowalski and Haenchen but with different other soloists, orchestra and chorus is also available in the "original version" of Gluck's opera on two CDs. At the moment, my favorite, full performance on CD is the one by Rene Jacobs with the RIAS Kammerchor and Freiburger Barockorchester. But I must repeat, the live Covent Garden performance on DVD is, as a total theatrical and musical event, simply wonderful--stunning, delightful, and, yes, heart-rending. Please see it.

There are so many reasons, why we should NOT buy or not even watch thisDVD wasting our valuable time. For one, this version of opera is missingmany pieces. For example, you will find in many places a piece called,"Melodie from Orfeo and Euridice", which is performed by variousinstruments including violin and piano, solo piano, or flute.This is a very beautiful piece, which is why it is so popular.Just search on the web or YouTube. This piece is from the Balletin the 2nd act. This version of DVD has a very very short versionof the Ballet (and they don't even do the ballet, but so stupid actof Orfeo Urggg!) and does not have this beautiful melodie performedby a solo flute.Also, some lyrics are different, for example, the beautiful"Laissez-vous toucher".I like modern/avant garde interpretation - when it is done right. Then there is an obviousquestion of what do you mean by "done right". In this DVD, Orfeo is wearingleather jacket and blue jean. Pretending to play rock'n roll electric guitar, singingBaroque song, actually accompanied by Baroque orchestra (and Baroque harp).At finale (L'Amour triomphe), three singers sit on the chair in front stage in a row.When it's time for one singer, one stands up, one step front, sings,finishes one's part, steps back, sit. Next one does the same sequence for one's part.Ironically, the staff who handed over flowers to Euridice's role after the performance,was in a complete outfit of Baroque period.The muscial performance itself is not bad. But Orphee could have sung more beautifully.Specifically, the beautiful tenor aria, "Laissez vous toucher" does notsound beautiful at all. The tenor in this production covers high notes very well,but he sounded more like a ghost throughout the performance. On the other hand,in Marc Minkowsky' Archiv CD, that aria was sung so beatifully that it makes mecry all the time (you can try it for 30 seconds with iTunes).Overall, something is very very wrong with this production. I'd better stick to Minkowsky's CD.

I neither was thrilled by nor disliked most of the staging. I did like the use of the small television Orfeo carries as he tries to lead Eurydice up from the underworld. I also enjoyed the voices and most of the performances. I thought Webster was excellent, and I was impressed with Kowalski until he wrecked "Che faro senza Eurydice?" with excessive ornamentation. This is the crucial aria of the opera and, when sung well, one of the most beautiful arias in all of opera. Kowalski's flourishes ruin the line of the melody and detract from its intensity and grace. Because the opera hinges on this aria, the poor performance of it severely weakens the whole production.

Very good singing and a terrific countertenor but the staging is poor. It makes such beautiful music unpleasant to watch. I own it and just watched it again.

The music is beautiful, the singing is very good but the staging is an arrogant mess. Close your eyes and enjoy it but why not get a cd?