大象传媒

Prologue

Euridice/Music addresses the audience and a court presided over by Pluto and Apollo. She introduces the mythical singer Orfeo and calls for silence while his story is told.

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Act I

Her story begins with the wedding day of Orfeo and Euridice. A Pastor orders their companions to celebrate with songs. The friends praise Hymen the god of marriage. Orfeo is overjoyed that Euridice has married him, and she promises eternal devotion to him. The Pastors order the company to the temple to celebrate the marriage. Euridice leaves with her friends to prepare for the wedding night. Orfeo returns from the temple with the Pastors and his friends;

everyone is delighted at the singer鈥檚 happiness.

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Act II

Orfeo鈥檚 celebrations continue and he sings that marriage to Euridice has turned his sorrow into joy. The First Pastor urges him to sing more, but before Orfeo can do so Euridice鈥檚 friend Silvia arrives with dreadful news: Euridice has been bitten by a snake while gathering flowers and has died, calling out Orfeo鈥檚 name. Orfeo鈥檚 companions lament the cruelty of fate, and Silvia determines on a life of solitude. Orfeo declares that he will bring Euridice back from the dead and leaves for the Underworld.

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Act III

One of the Pastors guides Orfeo to the gates of the Underworld, but can go no further with him and leaves. Charon, ferryman of the River Styx, will not allow Orfeo to enter the Underworld, so Orfeo attempts to charm him with song. Charon is unmoved, but Orfeo manages to lull him with his lyre and crosses the Styx. Pluto鈥檚 court sing in praise of man鈥檚 achievement.

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Act IV

Orfeo鈥檚 pleas have moved Pluto鈥檚 wife Proserpina, who begs Pluto

to release Euridice. Pluto agrees, making two conditions: that Orfeo

does not turn to look at Euridice until they have returned to the upper world, and that Proserpina does not neglect her marriage bed.

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Orfeo leads Euridice away from the Underworld, praising the power

of his music. However, he soon finds himself doubting Pluto鈥檚 promise. Is Euridice really following him? Might she be seized and taken back to the Underworld? There is a mysterious noise, and Orfeo turns to see if Euridice is there. Euridice sings her final farewell to Orfeo and returns to the realms of the dead, as Orfeo is forced back into the upper world, alone.

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Act V

Orfeo returns to the place where Silvia brought the news of Euridice鈥檚 death, and bitterly determines that he will never fall in love again. Apollo arrives and rebukes Orfeo for being a slave to his emotions. He invites Orfeo to leave for heaven, assuring him that he will see the form of Euridice in the stars. Orfeo complies.