– Opera Antwerpen, Antwerp

About this event

Opera Ballet Vlaanderen presents a concertante version of Christoph Willibald Gluck's Orphée et Eurydice. Rather than the 1762 Italian original or the 1774 French revision, this production utilizes Hector Berlioz's 1859 reworking of the score. This version is described as a full-blooded French opera with additional music rather than a mere copy of the original. The production strips away the bravura arias and intricate plot twists typical of Baroque opera, focusing instead on restrained emotion and deeply felt tragedy. The musical drama is presented with striking immediacy through just three main protagonists—Orphée, Eurydice, and Amour—alongside a dramatically active role for the chorus. Maestro Francesco Corti leads the musical direction, guaranteeing a thrilling and cutting-edge performance.