Claudio Monteverdi - L'Orfeo

music director: René Jacobs, Orfeo: Simon Keenlyside, choreography: Trisha Brown dancers: Kathleen Fisher, Stanford Makishi, Mariah Malohey, Brandi Norton, Stacy Matthew Sencer, Katrina Thonpson, Keith A. Thompson, Abigall Yager, Ming-Lung Yang
ORPHEUS:
See now, I return to you,
dear woods and beloved hills,
made blessed by that sun
through whom alone my darkness is lightened.
FIRST SHEPHERD:
Look, Orpheus, how the shade
of those beech trees invites us,
now that Phoebus darts
burning rays from heaven.
On these grassy banks
let us rest, and let each
in his own way let loose his voice
to the murmur of the waters.
FIRST & SECOND SHEPHERDS:
In this flowery meadow
every sylvan deity
is often wont
to linger for his pleasure.
Here Pan, the shepherds' god,
has sometimes been heard lamenting,
sweetly recalling
his unrequited loves.
CHORUS of NYMPHS & SHEPHERDS:
Here the charming dryads,
a company always decked with flowers,
have been seen gathering roses
with white fingers.
Therefore, Orpheus, make worthy
of the sound of your lyre
these fields, where there blows
a breeze with the perfumes of Araby.
ORPHEUS:
Do you recall, O shady woods,
my long, bitter torments,
when the rocks, their hearts softened,
replied to my laments?
Say, did I not then seem to you
more wretched than any other?
Now Fortune has changed her tune
and turned my woes into rejoicing.
Once I lived in sadness and sorrow;
now I rejoice, and those anxieties
that I have suffered for so many years
make my present happy state more dear.
Through you alone, lovely Eurydice,
I bless my torments;
after sorrow, one is all the more content,
after woe, one is all the happier.
FIRST SHEPHERD:
See, O see, Orpheus, how all around
the woods and the meadow smile.
Then continue, with your golden plectrum,
to sweeten the air on so blessed a day.

[@pozzodellaneve]

Che eleganza che leggerezza! Apparentemente lontano eppure vicinissima all'Orfeo

[@amoxtlacatl]

NOT ENOUGH STARS TO RATE THIS. Not a jewel - A TREASURE.

[@Schollistico]

Simon Keenlyside is one of the best baritones today and this performance is very very beautiful; i love this kind of "canon" dancing at the beginning. It is gorgeous.

[@PactwithPaimon]

This is perfection. What an amazing opera and dance performance!

[@Garrick415]

I have watched this several times now, transfixed by it. I just love it.

[@jakobwall9748]

It's good to hear this music sung with more complete and full voices. IMO, it brings brings a much bigger palette of emotions and effects to this music. The voices usually singing this are either (IMO) often flute-like and one-coloured, or they have so strongly adopted the technical trends of this genre that there is very little individuality and primal sound left to enjoy. The problem with singing on technical principles that constantly color the voice in one way or another is that it becomes monotonous, and you have nothing else to offer. That said, I know some listeners and performers who love the 'modern early music sound', and are happy to hear that sound cast in all roles, throughout an entire opera. I can't say they're wrong, it's just a taste. I've listened to "Tu se' morta" sung by Georg Nigl and become fascinated every time I do so. He starts out in a very typical early music aesthetic, and then it changes quite dramatically from the line "per mai piu", and the emotional impact of that change of timbre and handling of the music is pretty huge for me. That barren, confined straight-tone is a tool for certain emotions and effects for me, potentially a great one, but when it becomes a general vocal technique I just zone out. I am not saying that mr Nigl is a technical role model (because he really is not) but from a point of aesthetics and vocal drama I think he is.

[@Muttonchop_USA]

I've been quarantining for a year. I'm losing it. The men in white coats have come for me!

[@mikeinkc]

that is one awesome leap before he starts singing: how many singers can do that, start on the beat and on pitch? Wow!

[@realestateweb]

6:30

[@lowemgrim]

If some things are just fantastic, this production surely belongs to that group. As always it is a matter of opinion and sensibility. Dance is not to be explained, either you feel it or not. The Opera itself, well...it is just superb and the tone just perfect for the voices. Contemporary productions of this quality are needed, we need our memories. I do appreciate opinions on more "traditional" approaches: for the initiate they help putiing things in perspective. Final comment: buy the DVD!

[@treesny]

Many years ago now, I saw this production at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and loved it (except for the fact that Jacobs put the recitatives in a rhythmic straight-jacket by conducting them!). It helped that I had seen other choreography by the great Trisha Brown (1936-2017) over the years; it's in a tradition of American modern dance based on everyday walking movement which may be unfamiliar to many people. Her integration of singers with dancers throughout was exemplary. Also, this is movement that needs to be seen "in the house," not in close-up, which mutes its joyous collective kinetic energy. Two magical moments that remain in my memory: 1. the Prologue, in which the figure of La Musica - sung from the orchestra pit - was portrayed by a single dancer flying through the air; and 2. the change from Earth to Hades, when a black vertical line of scenery moved from right-to-left, and the stage was gradually plunged into darkness. Along with her (even finer) production of Salvatore Sciarrino's "Luci miei traditrici," this "Orfeo" makes me regret that she didn't direct more operas. Thank you. :)

[@iennarusgoodman2419]

Ricordo che Monteverdi scrisse anche i passi del balletto, un genio assoluto...🎉

[@Harpsichord246]

Jacopo Peri was the first but Monteverdi really brought opera into the spotlight.

[@rebeccae.5217]

That first shepherd's voice is just beautiful! John Bowen perhaps is his name? Keenlyside of course is fabulous as well.

[@olenamaksymchuk1351]

The singing is simply wonderful, so light and harmonic... great voices!

[@nuovocentauro]

Yes, yes, yes! I have never read a better expression of what the music of il divino does to me! Or what the spirit of the epoche which's epitome he was, means to me: good or bad, pain or joy, happiness or hurt: I am glad to be alive!

[@susansukkar]

I Love it love it love it! I watch this whenever I need to feel completely exhilarated. Sublime singing, amazing period performances from Jacobs ensemble and the Choreography wonderous. I wholeheartedly agree with Greengate. Savall? of course and Jacobs/Brown too!! Its a rapturous performance. Thank you

[@JacobKCarpenter]

While I find the staging of this production silly, the voices chosen to represent the parts are among the greatest I have ever heard. It is wonderful that "Hope" is now commonly allotted to countertenors; more rarely, "Music" has been sung by men in modern performances as well. Thank you for sharing!

[@flemmingdalsgaard4979]

I mostly agree with Jacob carpenter. The staging gets in the way of the music and contributes with nothing, I think.

[@emilianoturazzi]

this is the finest staging of orfeo ever...

[@treesny]

Amen! I saw this production when it came to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and agree 100%. Director-choreographer Trisha Brown handled the difficult task of integrating singers and dancers beautifully. The movement and groupings were not meant to be seen in close-up: in the theater, they were wonderfully "at one" with the music. This is one video where I long for full-stage shots, with very little cutting! Thank you. :)

[@domainofthesun4400]

@@treesny thanks for your comment. I really hated this staging as it's shown in the video; now from your description it makes more sense.

[@ClubXXXPoison]

It would be nice if the choreography actually integrated with the music, which in many cases it doesn’t in this production. Sorry that I can’t bow down to the pointless and gratuitous incongruity of the music and this staging.

[@Aubury]

what an imaginative production, I was spell bound, utterly delightful

[@oranteman]

An amazing production which you can watch in so many ways. Look above the dancers and just take in the orchestra. Marvel at Keenlyside's full talents of voice, dance, and acting. I'm not a dancer so I tend to watch the faces. When I view with my eyes focused at shoulder level the dance and hand movements amplify and move me greatly. Give it a try several times and see if it works for you.

[@MrFUHGEDDABOUDIT]

Magnificent, fantastic, divine !!!

[@brian317usa1]

simon keenlyside has that glorious and powerful singing voice. Perfect!!!!

[@joseolivaapolinario5293]

Monteverdi cravado no século XXI com a dinâmica de nosso tempo. Que momento feliz da coreografia e música. Atravessa Monteverdi o tempo, atravessa! Parabéns ao grupo!

[@Sochilinda]

Y si, en efecto canta bello y es guapisimo. En persona es hermoso y es una bella persona tambien.

[@talvela100]

Simon come sempre bravissimo in ogni ruolo. L'allestimento non aggiunge nulla alla bellissima opera di Monteverdi. Aspetto la nascita di un nuovo Ponnelle...ci manca un artista che capisca il giusto equilibrio tra musica e scena.

[@irene_deneb]

Arguably the first opera as we know them today.

[@BG-ii1nj]

I have seen the whole production some months/ years ago. Strange, but works. Now I found this excerpt and can not stop watching it.

[@katasandberg1383]

THE BEST thumbnail on facebook

[@brian317usa1]

what a perfect voice!!!! Simon Keenlyside is really amazing!!!

[@olenamaksymchuk1351]

love the movements, feels like a natural flow with music...overall this version in whole is outstanding! Thank you for this unusual and beautiful performance!

[@federicoxxl]

Finalmente!!! Belle voci in un opera di Monteverdi, bella linea di canto, bel vibrato. Al fin si ascolta bene questa musica

[@Sochilinda]

Se llama Simon Keenlyside. Baritono inglés. Hace uno dias terminó la primera temporada de Eugen Oneguin de Tchaikovsky aqui en Viena.

[@Trompicavalas]

Sometimes one wish youtube had only audio 8-)

[@TonyBittner-Collins]

. Wow! It's a good contemporary version. I like it!

[@jaimevarelarodriguez6444]

Cuanto talento ,gran coreografía ,Simon excepcional

[@Sochilinda]

OMG!!! The first shepherd's voice is out of this world. So beautiful and sounds so natural and effortless. Someone can tell me who is HE? thank you.

[@rebeccae.5217]

Perhaps it is John Bowen? A beautiful voice.

[@christorabie643]

Baritone Simon Keenlyside. Check out his Schubert Lieder!

[@majerzoltan]

True magic.

[@totorodono]

a gem again René Jacobs outdid himself bringing us this beautiful interpretation. thanks for posting

[@maresconti4041]

Lo trovo bellissimo grazie a chi lo ha messoin rete.Stupendo il movimento fluido dei cantanti che accompagna la musica

[@jaimevarelarodriguez6444]

Monteverdi ,compuso está maravilla ,sin estudio de grabación ,solo con cabeza imaginación , papel y pluma o lápiz

[@fan2jnrc]

What a delicious staging... Charming set, splendid costumes... L'Orfeo in the psychiatric hospital... It's better to listen the CD at home...

[@AriOliveira]

Muito obrigado por postar este extrato de grande beleza!

[@naorakenzo]

I play baroque violin. I really love the first dance in this video! Violin, recoder, zink.. everything is very beautiful! Thank you for uploading.

[@supaforrest11]

I am part of the Monteverdi family!

[@marcvcivsnoveboracensis]

Respect.

[@walkcordatus]

Oh how wonderful is this?!?!?! Thank you for sharing!

[@fcouperin]

very good, as long as I keep my eyes closed.

[@ruima4155]

I love the performance, orfeo is so good!

[@Harpsichord246]

Although the oldest opera "Dafne" is lost, Peri's opera L'Euridice is the oldest opera we still have today. (Even though it was partly written by Caccini).

[@ELYSIANT]

this is wonderful..just great

[@vlcakkazan]

Vše je tu prostě geniální! Děkuji!

[@liberobeissnagel1009]

Relativ puristische Inszenierung. Nicht übel nach meinem Empfinden. Obwohl ich Spätrenaissance-Klamotten (meinetwegen: Frühbarock) durchaus betrachtenswert finde. Die Klamotten empfinde ich weniger als Pyjamas, eher als Totenhemden. Über die Musik muss kein Wort verloren werden. Segonda pratica und so weiter. Wunderbar den guten Claudio umgesetzt.

[@ajl4668]

Very fine nuances. Glad that I found this again.

[@isabelneiradelano2152]

¡¡Maravillosa la música y la danza!! ¡Felicitaciones!

[@susannahmacdonald9642]

Monteverdi, like any of the great composers is pretty well timeless and universal, so I usually find that a contemporary interpretation is not at odds with the works. keenlyside is, as ever, in fine voice.

[@kikivolauvent1]

Today, on February 24 1607, this opera premiered in Mantua! Happy anniversary! As a (non-professional) singer I was overjoyed to find this video and I'm incredibly touched by the visual as well as auditive quality of this production. How I would have enjoyed being present when this was ‘given’; don’t forget it’s OPERA and in their early time, this kind of entertainment was basically a play, intercepted by lengthy sessions of music. This opera was the first one where all actors were singing this premiere opened & changed people’s perception of this genre of ‘acted music & played theatre’…. I think this is absolutely magnificent and beautiful.

[@helenlauer9465]

i agree with you--as a singer (non professional) as well. it's adorable, if a little tedious but that's probably because I don't know much about modern dance. People who are internet-couch potatoes can't digest anything the least unexpected or novel. phooey on them.

[@MarcArmitanoDomingo]

The duet at 3:47 is awsome with the male castrati and soprano! great gob you two!

[@barockeuse1]

Interprétation contemporaine, mise en valeur de l'oeuvre .. Magique..

[@pianissimo5951]

The singing's so beautiful The singing: 6:29

[@leleuric]

Belíssima montagem! Admirável o despojamento coreográfico que parece desenhar a linha musical de L'Orfeo!

[@dorapezzilli]

Splendida interpretazione di Orfeo ed Euridice,

[@emiliomartin5833]

La belleza de la simplicidad en escena.

[@hugovdg]

the musical performance - superb, as one would expect of Renee Jacobs. -- choreographically, a disaster: how could one probably miss the opportunities for the fanciest imaginable footwork that Monteverdi's rhythmic designs so suggestively offer? the dancers are directed to virtually march! yet still, many thanks for an outstanding post

[@swiftedg]

1:10 The pre-dab, much more majestic and refined

[@marksted]

Look up "orchestra of Monteverdi" and you will get the whole list. Jacobs uses these old instruments in this production. Hope this helps

[@amoxtlacatl]

@NotHomelessAnymore Interesting. I like the Savall version better musically, yet I find both stagings superb - and am actually a little more inclined for the choreography in the Jacobs' version. The Savall choreography is simply and ecstatically beautiful, but seeing Orpheus dance with the other singers is a treat.

[@dacor31]

I nearly forget the modern ballet when I'm listening to the beautiful voices. As far as I know this way of singing I think they perform it as it should be. Dacor31

[@capenoulettebarbizon3396]

Merveilleux!

[@GeorgeKhatiashvili]

Great scenography! Great opera

[@ruperttmls7985]

Grande maestro Monteverdi, Great Opera.... Crappy scenography!

[@Glamourleichensack]

...when I fly to Mars with no return, I want to hear this again and again till the end of my life on mars! - And, selbstverständlich, Atom Heart Mother by Pink Floyd, too.

[@hcsabi88]

but keenlyside is 50 years old, isn't he? or this video was made 20 years ago? incredible...

[@risterion]

El genio de Monteverdi es intemporal.

[@ManuelMillandelasHeras]

Simon Keenlyside es un Papageno y un Orfeo sin parangón. Magistral.

[@rebeccae.5217]

The ending bit at 6:50 is gorgeous.

[@이상우-m7b9f]

전세계 인류 최초의 오페라

[@АндрейБекбаев-х3д]

Bravissimo!

[@Welverance]

troppo bello

[@DangerousFacts48]

Great to hear this done by a high baritone rather than a tenor singing too low in his voice to give the sound any real colour or passion.

[@Junior_LC]

No te entiendo

[@dystopikk]

For all the purists around, you need to understand that this is what makes a the universality of a masterpiece, it's ability to speak for people in different times and cultures. I think it is ridiculous to just recreate again and again the 16-th century staging. I's like seeing stuffed animals in recreated environment in museums of natural history. Monteverdi wrote a piece of music on an ancient narrative but he used the artistic means of his time, not of ancient Greeks.

[@aabbccddeeffgghugo]

otro nivel!!!!!

[@papillondenuit1970]

amazing!

[@mikeinkc]

Andre Watts (great USA pianist) stated he never critical of other pianists because "..being a pianist is so damn hard!.." As a pianist (classically trained) I think we should Watts' advice and extend to all music makers EVERYWHERE..BTW loved this version of L'Orfeo.

[@JacobSagrans]

@mezzoanghy: This was a 1998 production at Théâtre royal de la Monnaie (Koninklijke Muntschouwburg) in Brussels. I'm not sure about the orchestra.

[@addnerBB]

obra de arte !

[@Jaydoggy531]

I find that if one has to promote his or her stagings/choreography by means of making fun of ways of the old and insulting it... then there isn't much substance to it. I'd be able to take modernizations and alternate stagings more seriously if they weren't so egotistical about it, and put down other peoples' hard work.

[@NotHomelessAnymore]

Simon Keenlyside is really outstanding judging from this and his performance as Papageno in the Magic Flute.

[@aeliosmaster]

magnificent!

[@eurydike]

he looks like one of the dancers:-) incredible

[@elephantbarbiegirl]

agree. he was recently seen sword fighting in Don Carlo. still in great shape and great voice

[@Ammazzadraghi]

Ma quanto è carina da uno a dieci la ballerina coi capelli corti? *_* UNDICI!

[@ladiszka3]

Köszi!

[@rexeterna]

is that yann beuron in the group at 4:40?

[@fannyjemwong]

ORFEO: Mira ahora, vuelvo a ti, queridos bosques y queridas colinas, hecho bendito por ese sol a través de quien solo mi oscuridad se ilumina. PRIMER PASTOR: Mira, Orfeo, cómo la sombra de esos árboles de hayas nos invita, ahora que los dardos Phoebus quemando rayos del cielo. En estos bancos de hierba Descansemos, y dejemos que cada uno a su manera, suelta su voz al murmullo de las aguas. PRIMER Y SEGUNDO PASTOR: En este prado florido cada deidad selvática a menudo no para permanecer por su placer. Aquí Pan, el dios de los pastores, a veces se ha escuchado lamentarse, recordando dulcemente sus amores no correspondidos CORO de NYMPHS y PASTORES: Aquí las encantadoras dríadas, una compañía siempre adornada con flores, se han visto recolectando rosas con dedos blancos. Por lo tanto, Orfeo, haz digno del sonido de tu lira estos campos, donde sopla una brisa con los perfumes de Araby. ORFEO: ¿Recuerdas, oh bosque sombrío, mis largos y amargos tormentos, cuando las rocas, sus corazones se suavizaron, respondió a mis lamentos? Dime, ¿entonces no te pareció? más miserable que cualquier otro? Ahora la fortuna ha cambiado su tono y convirtió mis infortunios en regocijo. Una vez viví en tristeza y tristeza; ahora me regocijo, y esas ansiedades que he sufrido durante tantos años hacer mi estado presente feliz más querido. A través de ti solo, encantadora Eurydice, Bendigo mis tormentos; después del dolor, uno está más contento, después de la aflicción, uno es más feliz. PRIMER PASTOR: Mira, oh, mira, Orfeo, cómo a tu alrededor el bosque y la pradera sonríen. Luego continúa, con tu púa de oro, para endulzar el aire tan bendito por día.

[@yordankaacosta2849]

Gracias!!!

[@harley6426]

Grasias

[@adonaiescamilla4786]

Orfeo de lira?

[@leduck75]

alas, such ungly costumes!

[@giovannicavalli9072]

Non sono un professionista della musica ma credo di essere in grado di distinguere la qualità dei vari direttori d'orchestra: Rene Jacobs è il mio preferito a dirigere la musica "barocca" e "pre barocca". Peccato che non sia considerato abbastanza per quello che vale : forse vuole occuparsi "solo" di musica. Comunque, bravo,molto bravo: spero continui a dirigere almeno fin quando potrò ascoltarlo. Giovanni

[@mezzoanghy]

where is this production? Jacobs with which orchestra? and when?

[@nuovocentauro]

I like this staging a lot. Despite my fondness for Monteverdi I never came to like L'Orfeo, because it seemed to me that it wouldn't work as musical *theatre*. Here however L'Orfeo becomes very convincing as musical *dance* theatre. As for the choreography: for me, taking an opera seriously as a great piece of art means to take it serious as a contemporary piece of art. L'Orfeo was an avantgarde opera; preserving that spirit means for me: the staging has to be modern, not some sort of renfest.

[@veronikavolhejnova5036]

Baroque music is essentially abstract, the voices are used as instruments, so - why not use dancers and singers in the same manner? The plot is not so crucial in baroque operas, and given their structure, they can be sometimes tooooo long and boooooring, while this definitely is not. And moreover, this goes to show that not all opera singers are just beautiful voices in wooden bodies.

[@milansladek7369]

GENIAL

[@jeferson0chagas]

bello!!!

[@Jaydoggy531]

@youlupukki I find it incredibly disrespectful for you to imply that I said something I didn't; I did not mention Monteverdi. I was talking about stage directors (and others) who promote new stagings of old works by means of insulting and putting down other version. I actually have no problem with modernized productions or modern art, but I do have a problem with egotistical people who put down others to promote themselves. I respectfully ask that you remove your false accusation.

[@alessiamauro615]

where can I find the whole opera? Is there a link or something like that? I have to watch it for an exam and I would like to watch this one with Simon!

[@janpieterkoch9458]

+Alessia Mozart dear alessia. I am sure that wolfgang will like it as much as Simon. Of Nannerl I am not so sure .

[@ScantraXX2]

Its on youtube!

[@Legolasicek]

Alessia Mauro just .. dont.. it’s historicaly inaccurate, the voice techniques the most. And I wont mention the choreography. Watch version by Jordi Savall, its one of the best versions ever recorded, its even on youtube (and you can download it and download subtitles, they exist somewhere.)