Gluck - Orfeo & Euridice [Box set, Import]

Christoph Willibald Gluck (Artist), Rene Jacobs (Artist), Bernarda Fink (Artist), Veronica Cangemi (Artist), Maria Cristina Kiehr (Artist), Nicolau de Figueredo (Artist), Freiburger Barockorchester (Artist), RIAS-Kammerchor (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 11, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set, Import
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B00005O7Z4
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,585 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Overture

2. Act 1 Scene 1 — Chorus: “Ah! Se intorno a quest’urna funesta”

3. Act 1 Scene 1 — Recitative: “Basta, basta o compagni” (Orfeo)

4. Act 1 Scene 1 — Ballo

5. Act 1 Scene 1 — Chorus: “Ah! Se intorno a quest’urna funesta”

6. Act 1 Scene 1 — Aria: “Chiamo il mio ben cosi’ (Orfeo)

7. Act 1 Scene 1 — Recitative: “O Numi! Barbari numi” (Orfeo)

8. Act 1 Scene 2 — Aria: “Gli sguardi tratteini”

9. Act 1 Scene 2 — Recitative: “Che disse! Che ascoltai!”

10. Act 2 Scene 1 — Ballo & Chorus: “Chi mai dell’Erebo”

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Act 2 Scene 2 — Ballo

2. Act 2 Scene 2 — Recitative: ”Che puro ciel!” (Orfeo)

3. Act 2 Scene 2 — Chorus: “Vieni ai regni del riposo”

4. Act 2 Scene 2 — Ballo

5. Act 2 Scene 2 — Recitative: “Anime avventurose” (Orfeo)

6. Act 2 Scene 2 — Chorus: “Torna, o bella, al tuo consorte”

7. Act 3 Scene 1 — Recitative: “Vieni! Segui i miei passi” (Orfeo & Euridice)

8. Act 3 Scene 1 — Aria: “Vieni, appaga il tuo consorte” (Orfeo & Euridice)

9. Act 3 Scene 1 — Recitative & Aria: “Qual’ vita e questa mai” (Orfeo)

10. Act 3 Scene 1 — Recitative: “Ecco un nuovo tormento!” (Orfeo & Euridice)

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful version with a female contralto as Orfeo, December 12, 2001

By 

"nicngu" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gluck - Orfeo & Euridice (Audio CD)

What makes this set so special is that, although this is (again) a recording of the original 1762 Italian version of Gluck's most celebrated (and recorded) opera, Jacobs has decided to cast a female alto as Orfeo rather that a countertenor, as has become "fashionable" in the recent(ish) recordings of this work. So, how does Ms. Bernada Fink compare to Michael Chance (for Bernius,on Sony), Derek Lee Ragin (for Gardiner), or Rene Jacobs himself (for Kuijken on Accent, my favourite recording until now) all strongest contendants ? Well to me, she first demonstrates how much more immediately appealling, how much richer a female contralto voice can sound compared to a countertenor (sorry guys !). Apart from the appeal of the voice itself, she is a first class Orfeo, very moving indeed, but this should not surprise you if you have already heard her many contribution to the record (her Cornelia in Handel's "Giulio Cesare" and her Cain in Scarlatti's "Il primo omicidio" come particularly recommended). This is now my favourite version.

4 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, March 5, 2004

By 

betsy (Sherman Oaks, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gluck - Orfeo & Euridice (Audio CD)

Bernarda Fink, our contralto Orfeo, is hot stuff - this is gorgeous. I think the other versions I've heard have better technique and acting, but Fink has very luxurious tone
and beautiful... phrasing or something. (Yeah, okay, so I'm a novice.) She's a robust Orfeo - sad but demanding.

I'm not so much on board with the period instruments though; they seem unnecessarily jangly.

A libretto with translations is included. I'm not totally sure what edition this is - It's Italian, and mostly seems original, but I think they might have added some of the later ballets and an aria for Euridice - or maybe not.