Jaques Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld

19.12.2021

Opera production

Overview

"The idea of once making Olympus equal to our own Earth has always fascinated me. But just bringing the gods down to earth and having them sing waltzes is not enough. They must be torn out of their divinity." With this remark by Jacques Offenbach to his librettist Ludovic Halévy in March 1858, the idea was born that would make the ingenious mocker one of the most performed and at the same time most controversial composers of the Second Empire.

Musical direction
kai Röhrig Scenic direction
rosamund Gilmore Stage
jiale Zhu Costume
jisu Park Dramaturgy
ronny Dietrich

About production

The prelude to the so-called "Offenbachiades," in which he ingeniously interwove mythological themes and contemporary criticism, is his "Orphée en enfers. Here he not only shakes up the world of the gods, but also puts the popular myth of Orpheus and Eurydice to the test. Offenbach's Orpheus is no longer the divine singer mourning the death of his Eurydice, but a vain conservatory director who annoys Eurydice to no end with his violin playing. When she is kidnapped by her secret crush - Pluto - she joyfully follows him into the underworld. Orpheus is also joyfully moved when he finds her farewell letter. However - there is still the "public opinion", which teaches him that he must demand his wife back from the gods. Despite all criticism of the prevailing political conditions, in Offenbach's "Orphée" the present finally wins out over the past. The minuet, already turned into a parody in the prelude together with a hopelessly winding fugue, is swept away as a representative of the 18th century by the cancan of the 19th century. In the new production of the Mozarteum, the two-act original version from 1858 is performed, which also features the original instrumentation.

Gallery

Dates & Cast

15. December 2021, 7 p.m.
December 16
, 2021, 7 p.m. December 17, 2021, 7 p.m.
December 18, 2021, 4 p.m
. Max Schlereth Hall

ORPHEUS, music teacher: Niklas Meyer (Dec. 15/Dec. 17), Dagur Thorgrimsson (Dec. 16/Dec. 18) EURYDIKE, his wife: Regina Koncz (Dec. 15.12./17.12.), Maria Agustina Calderon (16.12./18.12.) JUPITER, Lord of Olympus: Jakob Hoffmann (15.12./17.12.), Máté Herczeg (16.12./18.12.) JUNO, his wife: Dares Hutawattana VENUS, Goddess of Love: Yekaterina Badeso (15.12./17.12.), Donata Meyer-Kranixfeld (12/16/12/18) DIANA, Goddess of Hunting: Donata Meyer-Kranixfeld (12/15/12/17), Yekaterina Badeso (12/16/12/18.) MINERVA, Goddess of Wisdom: Heekyung Park (12/15/17), Emilie Christensen (12/16/18).) BACCHUS, God of Wine: Dominik Schumertl MARS, God of War: Máté Herczeg (Dec. 15/Dec. 17), Jakob Hoffmann (Dec. 16/Dec. 18) MERCUR, Messenger of the Gods: Dagur Thorgrimsson (Dec. 15.12./17.12.), Niklas Meyer (16.12./18.12.) CUPIDO, God of Love: Emilie Christensen (15.12./17.12.), Heekyung Park (16.12./18.12.) THE PUBLIC OPINION: Constantin Zimmermann PLUTO / ARISTÄUS: Johannes Hubmer HANS STYX, his servant: Jakob Mitterrutzner

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