These lists show the audio and visual recordings of the opera L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi. The opera was first performed in Mantua in 1607, at the court of Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga, and is one of the earliest of all operas. The first recording of L'Orfeo was issued in 1939, a freely adapted version of Monteverdi's music edited by Giacomo Benvenuti,[1] given by the orchestra of La Scala Milan conducted by Ferrucio Calusio.[2] In 1949 the Berlin Radio Orchestra under Helmut Koch recorded the complete opera, on long-playing records (LPs). The advent of LP recordings was, as Harold Schonberg later wrote, an important factor in the postwar revival of interest in Renaissance and Baroque music,[3] and from the mid-1950s recordings of L'Orfeo have been issued on many labels. Koch's landmark version was reissued in 1962, when it was compared unfavourably with others that had by then been issued. The 1969 recording by Nicholas Harnoncourt and the Vienna Concentus Musicus, using Harnoncourt's edition based on period instruments, was praised for "making Monteverdi's music sound something like the way he imagined". In 1981 Siegfried Heinrich, with the Early Music Studio of the Hesse Chamber Orchestra, recorded a version which re-created the original Striggio libretto ending, adding music from Monteverdi's 1616 ballet Tirsi e Clori for the Bacchante scenes. Among more recent recordings, that of Emmanuelle Haïm has been praised for its dramatic effect. The 21st century has seen the issue of an increasing number of recordings on DVD and Blu-ray.
| Year of recording | Cast Orfeo; Euridice; La musica; Messenger; Proserpina | Opera house/Orchestra Conductor | Label and year of issue | width=15% | Notes | Refs[4] [5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Enrico de Franceschi Ginevra Vivante (Euridice and La musica) Elena Nicolai Vittoria Palombini | Orchestra of La Scala Milan Ferruccio Calusio | 78 rpm: La Voce del Padrone DB 5370-5381 CD (2004): Walhall Eternity Series WLCD 0060 (2 CDs) | First complete recording (Milan, December 1939) | [6] [7] [8] | |
| 1949 | Max Meili Elfriede Trötschel Eva Fleischer Gerda Lammers (Messenger and Proserpina) | Orchester des Berliner Rundfunks Helmut Koch | LP Eterna 821 036 CD (2001) Berlin Classics 0094342BC (2 CDS) | Performed in German, first LP version | [9] | |
| 1954 | Gino Sinimberghi Uta Graf Patricia Brinton (La musica) | Wiener Singakedemie and Vienna Symphony Orchestra Paul Hindemith | CD (2010): Andromeda, ANDRCD9069 (2 CDs), also CD (2010) Music & Arts - MA1237 (2 CDs) | Recorded at the Konzerthaus, Vienna on 3 June 1954, an attempt to reconstruct the first performance of the opera in 1607. Not issued as a recording until 2010 | [10] | |
| 1955 | Helmut Krebs Hanni Mack-Cosack Margot Guilleaume (La musica and Proserpina) Jeanne Deroubaix | LP: Deutsche Grammophon Archive APM 4057-4058 | [11] | |||
| 1960 | Gérard Souzay Judith Raskin Doris Yarick Regina Sarfaty Evelyn Sachs | CD (2006): Mitridate Ponto PO 1046 (2 CDs) | Recording of a live performance by the New York City Opera, 29 September 1960, recording not issued until 2006 | [12] | ||
| 1968 | Eric Tappy Magali Schwartz Wally Staempfli Laura Sarti Juliette Bise | Ensemble Vocal et Instrumental de Lausanne Michel Corboz | LP: Erato STU 70440-42 (3 discs) CD (1995): Erato 4509-98531-2 | [13] | ||
| 1969 | Lajos Kozma Rotraud Hansmann (Euridice and La musica) Cathy Berberian Eiko Katanosaka | Concentus Musicus Wien Nikolaus Harnoncourt | LP: Telefunken SKH 21/1-3 (3 discs) CD (1985): Teldec ZA 8 35020 | Later CD release (2008): Teldec 2292 42494-2 (2CDS) | [14] | |
| 1973 | Nigel Rogers Emilia Petrescu (Euridice and La musica) Anna Reynolds (Messenger and Proserpina) | Instralmentalsolisten Camerata Accademica Hamburg Jürgen Jürgens | LP: Deutsche Grammophon Archiv Produktion 2723 018 (3 discs) CD (1996) Deutsche Grammophon Archiv 447 703-2 (2 CDs) | |||
| 1978 | Philippe Huttenlocher Dietlinde Turban Trudeliese Schmidt Glenys Linos (Messenger and Proserpina) | Monteverdi Ensemble der Zürcher Oper Nikolaus Harnoncourt | CD (1989): Teldec 8 35807 (part of Zürich Monteverdi Cycle, 6 CDS) | |||
| 1980 | Joachim Seipp Melinda Liebermann Rosemarie Bühler Heide Blanca-Roeser Rochelle Travis | Bad Hersfeld Festival 1980 Siegfried Heinrich | LP (1982): Jubilate JU 85810-2 (3 discs) | [15] | ||
| 1983 | Nigel Rogers Patrizia Kwella Emma Kirkby Guillemette Laurens Jennifer Smith | London Baroque Ensemble, London Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble Charles Medlam | LP (1985): EMI EX 2701313 CD (1986) EMI 7 47142-8 | Later CD issues in 1994 (EMI) and 2005 (Virgin) | [16] | |
| 1985 | Gino Quilico Audrey Michael Colette Alliot-Lugaz Carolyn Watkinson Danièle Borst | Opéra National de Lyon Michel Corboz | LP (1985): Erato 75212 CD (1985) Erato 88133 | Recorded from film soundtrack | ||
| 1986 | Anthony Rolfe-Johnson Julianne Baird Lynne Dawson Anne Sofie von Otter Diana Montague | English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir John Eliot Gardiner | LP (1987): Deutsche Grammophon Archiv Produktion 419 250-1 (2 discs) CD 919870 DG Archiv Produktion 419 250-2 | [17] | ||
| 1991 | John Mark Ainsley Julia Gooding Catherine Bott (La musica, Messenger, Proserpina) | New London Consort Philip Pickett | CD (1993): Decca L'Oiseau Lyre 433 545-2 | [18] | ||
| 1993 | Jeffrey Thomas Dana Hanchard (Euridice and La musica) Jennifer Lane Jessica Tanzillo | Art of the Early Keyboard Gwendolyn Toth | CD (1996): Lyrichord LEMS 9002 | |||
| 1995 | Laurence Dale Efrat Ben-Nun (Euridice and La musica) Jennifer Larmore Bernarda Fink | Concerto Vocale René Jacobs | CD (1995): Harmonia Mundi 901 553.54 (2 CDs) | [19] | ||
| 1996 | Alessandro Carmignani Marinella Pannicchi (Euridice and La musica) Rosita Frisani (Messenger and Proserpina) | Capella Musicale di San Petronio di Bologna Sergio Vartolo | CD (1998): Naxos 8.554094-95 | |||
| 1996 | Victor Torres Adriana Fernández María Cristina Kiehr Gloria Banditelli Roberta Invernizzi | Ensemble Elyma Gabriel Garrido | CD (1996): K617 K617066 | Reissued by K617 in 2007 | [20] | |
| 2000 | Gareth Morell Sandra Simon (Euridice and La musica) Meredith Hall (Messenger and Proserpina) | Apollo's Fire Jeannette Sorrell | CD (2001): Eclectra ECCD 2052 | Sung in English | ||
| 2003 | Ian Bostridge Patrizia Ciofi Natalie Dessay Alice Coote Véronique Gens | Le Concert d'Astrée Emmanuelle Haïm | CD (2004): Virgin Classics 5 45642-2 | [21] [22] [23] | ||
| 2004 | Kobie van Rensburg Cyrille Gerstenhaber Estelle Kaïque (Messenger) Delphine Gillot (Proserpina) | La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy Jean-Claude Malgoire | CD (2005): Dynamic DYNCDS 477 | Recording of a live performance at Tourcoing in October 2004. The role of La musica was shared between three singers. | [24] | |
| 2006 | William Matteuzzi Sylva Pozzer (Euridice and La musica) Sara Mingardo (Messenger and Proserpina) | Ensemble Instrumental Sergio Vartolo | CD (2006) Brilliant Classics 93103 | [25] | ||
| 2006 | Mirko Guadagnini Emanuela Galli (Euridice and La musica) Marina De Liso Christina Calzolari | La Venexiana Claudio Cavina | CD (2007): Glossa GLO 920913 | Recorded in the Iglesia di San Carlo, Modena, February 2006 | [26] | |
| 2006 | Frank Kelley Roberta Anderson Laurie Monahan (La musica and Messenger) Sharon Baker | Aston Magna Daniel Stepner | CD (2008): Centaur Records 2931/2 | |||
| 2007 | Furio Zanasi Anna Simboli (Eurydice and Prosperina) Monica Piccinini Sara Mingardo | CD (2007): Naïve OP 30439 | [27] | |||
| 2013 | Charles Daniels Faye Newton David Hurley Emily Van Evera (Messenger and Proserpina) | Taverner Consort and Players, Andrew Parrott | CD (2013): Avie AV2278 | [28] | ||
| 2020 | Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, Emőke Baráth, Emőke Baráth, Natalie Pérez, Mathilde Etienne | Ensemble Vocal de Poche; I Gemelli, Emiliano Gonzalez Toro | CD (2020): Naïve V 7176 | Recorded 2–10 January, Corum, Montpellier | [29] [30] | |
| 2021 | Federico Bardazzi Ensemble San Felice | 2021 / Bongiovanni |
| Year of recording | Cast Orfeo; Euridice; La musica; Messenger; Proserpina | Opera house/Orchestra Conductor | Label and year of issue | width=25% | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Philippe Huttenlocher Dietlinde Turban Trudeliese Schmidt Glenys Linos (Messenger and Proserpina) | Monteverdi Ensemble der Zürcher Oper Nikolaus Harnoncourt | DVD (2007): Deutsche Grammophon 073 4163 | Originally performed as a television film. Also issued on DVD as part of a 3-opera set, DG Unitel 073 4278 (5 DVDs) | [31] | |
| 1997 | John Mark Ainsley Juanita Lascarro David Cordier Brigitte Balleys Bernarda Fink | Concerto Palatino, Tragicomedia Stephen Stubbs | DVD (2005): Opus Arte OA 0928 (Europe); Opus Arte OA 0929 (USA) | Recording of a performance by De Nederlandse Opera Amsterdam, September 1997 (stage direction: Pierre Audi) | [32] | |
| 1998 | Simon Keenlyside Juanita Lascarro (Euridice and La musica) Graciela Oddone Martina Dike | Concerto Vocale, Collegium Vocale Gent René Jacobs | DVD (2006) Harmonia Mundi France HMD 9909003/04 | Recording of a performance at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, 21 May 1998. | [33] [34] | |
| 2002 | Furio Zanasi Arianna Savall Montserrat Figueras Sara Mingardo Adriana Fernández | Le Concert des Nations Jordi Savall | DVD (2002): BBC/Opus Arte OA 0842D | Recording of a performance in the Gran Teatre del Liceu, 31 January 2002 | [35] | |
| 2004 | Kobie van Rensburg Cyrille Gerstenhaber Estelle Kaïque (Messenger) Delphine Gillot (Proserpina) | La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy Jean-Claude Malgoire | DVD (2005): Dynamic 33477 | Recording of a live performance at Tourcoing in October 2004. The role of La musica was shared between three singers. | [36] | |
| 2008 | Dietrich Henschel Maria Grazia Schiavo (Euridice, La musica and Prosperina) Sonia Prina | DVD (2009): Dynamic 33598 | Live performance, Teatro Real, Madrid, May 2008 | [37] | ||
| 2009 | Georg Nigl Roberta Invernizzi (Euridice and La musica) Sara Mingardo Raffaella Milanesi | Blu-ray (2011): Opus Arte | Live performance, Milan, 21, 23 September 2009. Stage director: Robert Wilson | [38] | ||
| 2017 | Cyril Auvity Hannah Morrison (Euridice and La musica) Lea Desandre Miriam Allan | Blu-ray (2017): Harmonia Mundi | Live performance, Théâtre de Caen, 28 February 2017. Stage director: Paul Agnew | [39] [40] |
. Mark Ringer. Opera's First Master: The Musical Dramas of Claudio Monteverdi. Amadeus Press. 2006. 1-57467-110-3.