Euridice (Peri)
- Euridice (soprano )
- Orfeo (Tenor)
- Aminta, first Schäfer ( Tenor)
- Arcetro, second shepherd (Alto)
- Tirsi, third Schäfer ( Tenor)
- Caronte ( bass)
- Dafne (soprano )
- Pluto ( bass)
- Proserpina (soprano )
- Radamanto (Tenor)
- Venere (soprano )
- Allegorical figure of tragedy (soprano )
- Shepherdesses, shepherds, nymphs, playmates ( Chorus and Ballet )
L' Euridice favola drammatica - so the full title - is a Favola in Musica in a prologue and six scenes of Jacopo Peri ( music ), with a libretto by Ottavio Rinuccini. In the introduction to his score, the composer remarked that a few parts of the music by Giulio Caccini were added to the composition. This later set to music the entire libretto again. The work was premiered on October 6, 1600 at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence.
Orchestra
A harpsichord, a lyre, two lutes and three flutes. The orchestra played in the first performance behind the stage prospectus and was therefore not visible to the public.
Action
Prologue
The prologue is very short. The " tragedy " appears in it as an allegorical figure and announces the next game.
Scenes
A chorus of shepherds and nymphs reports of the impending marriage Euridicens with Orfeo. This is a ballet follows, dancing at the Euridicens playmates. It follows the appearance Orfeo with his friends. The messenger brings Orfeo Dafne the news of the sudden death of his beloved. Orfeo is his despair in a long lament expression. The shepherds and shepherdesses and some nymphs Orfeo try to comfort her. The goddess Venus eventually succeeded, the desperate move to descend into the underworld to beg the return of his beloved at their rulers. In a recent lament Orfeo turns to Pluto. In the final scene, the lovers are reunited happily. Choirs and dances give the joy expression.
Formation
The opera was commissioned for the program accompanying the celebrations on the occasion of the marriage of King Henry IV of France with around 20 years younger than Princess Mary of Medici. The composer himself sang Orfeo. Euridice was played by the then very famous singer Vittoria Archilei.
Music
Euridice today has only music historical significance because it is the oldest surviving opera music history. In the 400 years since its creation, the listening habits have changed so much that at the present time the work would be perceived by most listeners as too monotonous. Most likely speaks to today's listeners still the choral song to sing, to dance and flute interlude in the middle of the work on. The two lamentations were important for the development of the solo scenes in Italian operas.
Source
Gerhart von Westerman and Charles Schumann: Knaurs Opernführer, Droemersche Publishing Company Th Knaur Nachf., edition dated November 1969