Language: Italian
Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish

Created at the Ducal Palace in Mantua in 1607, L’Orfeo de Monteverdi is based on the Greek legend of Orpheus, and tells the story of his descent to Hades and his fruitless attempt to bring his dead bride Eurydice back to the living world.

Orpheus loves Eurydice, whom death takes from him. Qays loves Layla, whom his father snatches him. One will sing of his despair to the wild beasts before going to seek his wife in Hell, the other becomes "Majnun", literally the "madman" of love who addresses his songs to animals. Born from the meeting between an inexhaustible Western myth and a famous Arab legend, here is Orfeo & Majnun. This great participatory opera will bring together professionals and amateurs for a vast fresco which is also a great celebration. The performance of the opera, under the starry sky of Provence, will thus be preceded by an artistic parade in the city of Aix. Choir, soloists, orchestras and animals of all kinds will sing the ardent desire. And love stronger than desolation.

"L'Orfeo" is a musical fable which takes up the myth of Orpheus: the son of Apollo has just married the beautiful Eurydice when he learns of his death. In an attempt to retrieve her, he descends into the underworld but fails to bring her back to the living as he turns to see her behind him, not respecting the arrangement made with the gods. But Monteverdi’s work has a happy ending, as the two lovers eventually ascend to heaven together.

Monteverdi's first opera is an extension of the Madrigals and has now become one of the essentials of the lyrical repertoire. It marks a turning point in the history of music and symbolizes the border between the Renaissance and the Baroque period. With this opera, Monteverdi becomes, if not the first, at least one of the main creators of a new form: the dramma per musica or theatrical action in music. Monteverdi’s Orfeo is reputed to be the first opera in history! Alessandro Striggio's libretto is based on the myth of Orpheus as told in Ovid's Metamorphoses and certain passages from Virgil's Georgics.

Director: Yves Lenoir (Director), Étienne Meyer (Music Conductor)
Cast: Les Traversées Baroques, Orfeo: Marc Mauillon, Euridice: Marine Chagnon, Musica: Emmanuelle de Negri, Messenger: Eva Zaïcik, Ninfa: Capucine Keller, Proserpina: Claire Lefilliâtre, Speranza: Kangmin Justin Kim, Pluto: Frédéric Caton, Caronte: Renaud Delaigue, Apollo: Tomáš Král, Pastore: Antonio Giovannini, Pastore & Spirito: Benjamin Alunni, Pastore & Spirito: Vincent Bouchot, Spirito: Guilhem Worms