Orfeo ed Euridice discography explained

The following discography for Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice is mainly based on the research of Giuseppe Rossi, which appeared in the programme notes to the performance of the work at the 70th Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in 2007, under the title "Discografia – Christoph Willibald Gluck – Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Eurydice)". Rossi's data has been checked against the sources referenced in the notes.

The discography gives the language of the recording as well as the version performed, although the recordings often mix different editions of the work or are even based on new ones created "from scratch." In the most significant cases, such mixed versions are described in detail. The term "pasticcio" (which has no negative connotation in this context) has been used for recordings where the different versions are inextricably mixed.

List

Complete recordings

Recording data: date and labelsVersion/languageConductor/
director[1]
Cast: Orpheus,
Eurydice,
Cupid,
A blessed spirit[2]
Orchestra and chorus
1940 – Walhall CDRicordi[3] /ItalianErich LeinsdorfKerstin Thorborg, Jarmila Novotná, Marita Farell, Annamary DickeyOrchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York
1950 – Melodija LP/Dante CDParis (1774)[4] /
Russian
Samuil SamosudIvan Kozlovskij, Elizaveta Šumskaja, Galina SakharovaOrchestra and Chorus of the Moscow Radio
1951 – EMI LP/Verona, EMI CDRicordi/ItalianCharles BruckKathleen Ferrier, Greet Koeman,
Nel Duval
Orchestra and Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera, Amsterdam
1951 – Palladio LP/Urania, Walhall CDRicordi/ItalianWilhelm FurtwänglerFedora Barbieri, Magda Gabory,
Hilde Güden
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan
1952 – Urania, BASF, Nixa, Bellaphon Acanta LP/Dante, Preisetr, Cantus Classics CDDörffel/GermanArthur RotherMargarete Klose, Erna Berger,
Rita Streich, Fia Fleig
Orchestra and Chorus of the Städtische Oper, Berlin
1953 – Walhall CDDörffel/GermanMichael GielenHilde Rössel-Majdan, Sena Jurinac, Emmy LooseOrchestra of Radio Wien and Chorus of the Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna
1954 – G.I.D.D.[5] Paris (1774)/
French (?)
Nicholas GoldshmidtLeon Combe, Corie Bijster, Annette de la BijeDutch Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus
1955 – Opera Melodram LP/GDS Records CDRicordi/ItalianPierre MonteuxRisë Stevens, Hilde Güden, Laurel Hurley, Shakeh Varttenissian[6] Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York
1955 – Pathé, Columbia, EMI LPParis (1774)/
French
Louis de FromentNicolai Gedda, Janine Micheau, Liliane BertonOrchestra of the Société des Concerts and Chorus of the Conservatoire of Paris
1956 – Philips CDParis (1774)/
French
Hans RosbaudLéopold Simoneau, Suzanne Danco, Pierette AlaireAssociation des Concerts Lamoureux and Chorus Ensemble Vocal “Roger Blanchard”
1956 – Eklipse CDRicordi/ItalianAntonio PedrottiEbe Stignani, Ester Orel,
Bruna Rizzoli
Orchestra and Chorus of the RAI of Milan
1956 – DG CDpasticcio[7] /
German
Ferenc FricsayDietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Maria Stader, Rita StreichBerlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Berliner Mottettenchor
1957 – RCA CDRicordi/ItalianPierre MonteuxRisë Stevens, Lisa Della Casa, Roberta PetersOrchestra and Chorus of the Teatro dell'Opera, Rome
1958 – Omega Opera Archive CDRicordi/ItalianMax RudolfRisë Stevens, Lucine Amara, Emilia CundariOrchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York
1959 – Opera d'oro, DG CDDörffel[8] /ItalianHerbert von KarajanGiulietta Simionato, Sena Jurinac, Graziella SciuttiWiener Philharmoniker and Chorus of the Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna
1962 – Omega Opera Archive CD Ricordi/ItalianJean MorelKerstin Meyer, Lucine Amara, Anneliese RothenbergerOrchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York
1964 – Orfeo CDVienna (1762)[9] /
Italian[10]
Ferdinand LeitnerDietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Elisabeth Söderström, Ruth-Margret PützCappella Coloniensis and Rundfunkchor, Cologne
1965 – RCA CD[11] Ricordi[12] /ItalianRenato FasanoShirley Verrett, Anna Moffo, Judith RaskinOrchestra “I Virtuosi di Roma” and Polyphonic Choir, Rome
1966 – Vanguard CDVienna (1762)[13] /
Italian
Charles MackerrasMaureen Forrester, Teresa Stich-Randall, Hanny StaffekOrchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper and Wiener Akademiechor, Vienna
1966 – EMI LP/Berlin Classics CDVienna (1762)[14] /
Italian
Václav NeumannGrace Bumbry, Anneliese Rothenberger, Ruth-Margret PützGewandhausorchester Leipzig and Rundfunkchor Leipzig
1967 – DG CDVienna (1762)/
Italian
Karl RichterDietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gundula Janowitz, Edda MoserMünchener Bach-Orchester and Münchener Bach-Chor, Munich
1969 – Decca CDpasticcio[15] /ItalianGeorg SoltiMarilyn Horne, Pilar Lorengar, Helen DonathOrchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
1970 – Opera d'oro CDVienna (1762)/
Italian
Seiji OzawaShirley Verrett, Antonietta Stella, Mariella AdaniOrchestra and Chorus of the RAI of Turin
1971 – Movimento Musica LP/Bensar The Opera Lovers CD(?)/ItalianRichard BonyngeGrace Bumbry, Gabriella Tucci, Roberta PetersOrchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York
1975 – Gala CD(?) /ItalianHans VonkHuguette Tourangeau, Catherine Malfitano, Barbara HendricksResidentie Orchestra, The Hague, and Nederlands Kamerkoor, Amsterdam
1979 – Hungaroton LP/Laserlight CDVienna (1762)
Italian
Ervin LukácsJúlia Hamari, Veronika Kincses, Mária ZempléniOrchestra and Chorus of the Hungarian State Opera, Budapest
1981 – EMI CDVienna (1762)/
Italian
Riccardo MutiAgnes Baltsa, Margaret Marshall, Edita GruberovaPhilharmonia Orchestra and Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London
1981 – Accent CD [16] Vienna (1762)/
Italian
Sigiswald KuijkenRené Jacobs, Marjanne Kwecksilber,
Magdalena Falewicz
La Petite Bande, Leuven, and Collegium Vocale of Ghent
1982 – Erato CD and Music&Arts CD[17] Ricordi/Italian)Raymond LeppardJanet Baker, Elisabeth Speiser, Elizabeth GaleLondon Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera
1982 – Castle Vision VHS/Pioneer Artists LD/Warner Music Vision – Kultur DVD [18] Ricordi/ItalianRaymond Leppard/
Peter Hall
Janet Baker, Elisabeth Speiser, Elizabeth GaleLondon Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera
1982 – Vipro, Metronome, Philips, Adès LP [19] Dörffel/ItalianHeinz PanzerPeter Hofmann, Julia Conwell, Allan Bergius[20] Philharmonisches Orchester Köln, Cologne, andChor des Dortmunder Musikvereins, Dortmund
1986 – Eurodisc, RCA CDVienna (1762)/
Italian
Leopold HagerMarjana Lipovšek, Lucia Popp, Julie KaufmannMünchner Rundfunkorchester and Chorus of the Bayerischer Rundfunk, Munich
1988 – Capriccio CDVienna (1762)[21] /
Italian
Hartmut HaenchenJochen Kowalski, Dagmar Schellenberger, Christian Fliegner Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Chamber Orchestra and Rundfunkchor, Berlin
1989 – EMI CDBerlioz[22] /FrenchJohn Eliot GardinerAnne Sofie von Otter, Barbara Hendricks, Brigitte FournierOrchestra of the Opéra de Lyon and Monteverdi Choir
1991 – Sony CD Vienna (1762)/
Italian
Frieder BerniusMichael Chance, Nancy Argenta, Stefan BeckerbauerTafelmusik (directed by Jeanne Lamon) and Kammerchor Stuttgart
1991 – Sonpact CDVienna (1762)
Italian
Joseph LamarcaAlain Aubin, Claudine Cheriez, Isabelle LopezOrchestre de Chambre d'Aix-en-Provence and Choeur d'Aix en Musique, Aix-en-Provence
1991 – Philips CD Vienna (1762)
Italian
John Eliot GardinerDerek Lee Ragin,
Sylvia McNair, Cynthia Sieden
English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir
1991 – Virgin VHS/Pioneer LD/Arthaus DVDVienna (1762)/
Italian
Hartmut Haenchen/
Harry Kupfer
Jochen Kowalski, Gillian Webster, Jeremy Budd Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
1991 – Hungaroton DVD[23] Vienna (1762)
Italian
György Vashegyi/
Domokos Moldován
Derek Lee Ragin, Adrienne Csengery, Anna PántiConcerto Armonico Chamber Orchestra, Tomkins Vocal Ensemble and Central Europe Dance Company, Budapest
1993 – Forlane CDBerlioz/FrenchPatrick PeireEwa Podleś, Raphaëlle Farman, Marie-Noëlle de CallataÿCollegium Instrumentale Brugense and Capella Brugensis
1993 – Kultur DVDParis (1774)[24] /
French
Marco Guidarini/
Stefanos Lazaridis
David Hobson, Amanda Thane, Miriam Gormley,Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Australian Opera Chorus, Sydney
1994 – Astrée Audivis CD[25] Vienna (1762)/
Italian
Jean-Claude MalgoireJames Bowman, Lynne Dawson, Claron MacFaddenLa Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy and Chœr de Chambre de Namur
1995 – Teldec CDBerlioz/FrenchDonald RunniclesJennifer Larmore, Dawn Upshaw, Alison HagleyOrchestra and Chorus of the San Francisco Opera House
1998 – Eagle Rock Entertainment VHS/DVDVienna (1762)/
Italian
Gustav Kuhn/
Alberto Fassini
Bernadette Manca di Nissa, Paula Almerares, Paola AntonucciOrchestra, Chorus and Ballet of the Teatro San Carlo, Naples
1998 – ARTS CDpasticcio/ItalianPeter MaagEwa Podleś, Ana Rodrigo, Elena de la MercedOrquesta Sinfonica de Galicia, A Coruña, and Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid
1998 – Naxos CD Vienna (1762)[26] /
Italian
Arnold ÖstmanKerstin Avemo, Ann-Christine Biel, Maya BoogOrchestra and Chorus of the Drottningholm Palace Theatre
1999 – Solfa (?)/ItalianAlbert ArgudoJordi Domènech, Miki Mori, Cristina ObregónOrquestra Simfònica del Vallés, Sabadell, and Coro de los Amics de l'òpera de Sabadell
1999, Oct 8-23 – Arthaus DVD (later on EMI)Berlioz/FrenchJohn Eliot Gardiner/
Robert Wilson
Magdalena Kožená, Madeline Bender, Patricia PetibonOrchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and Monteverdi Choir
2001 – Harmonia Mundi CD Vienna (1762)/
Italian
René JacobsBernarda Fink, Verónica Cangemi, María Cristina KiehrFreiburger Barockorchester, and RIAS Kammerchor, Berlin
2003 – Farao Classics DVDBerlioz/FrenchIvor Bolton/
Nigel Lowery and
Amir Hosseinpour
Vesselina Kasarova, Rosemary Joshua, Deborah YorkChorus and Orchestra of Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich
2004[27] – Archiv CDParis (1774)/
French
Marc MinkowskiRichard Croft, Mireille Delunsch, Marion Harousseau, Claire Delgado-BogeLes Musiciens du Louvre, Grenoble
2004 – Five Tone DVDBerlioz/FrenchAmaury du CloselSylvie Sulle, Sophie de Segur, Isabelle PoulenardCamerata de Versailles and Michel Piquemal vocal ensemble
2005[28] – Naxos CD Paris (1774)/
French
Ryan BrownJean-Paul Fouchécourt, Catherine Dubosc, Suzie Le BlancOrchestra and Chorus of the Opera Lafayette, Washington, D.C.
2010[29] – BAC Blu-ray/DVDParis (1774)[30] /
French
Giampaolo BisantiRoberto Alagna, Serena Gamberoni, Marc Barrard[31] Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Comunale, Bologna
2010[32] – Decca CDParis (1774)/
French
Jesús López CobosJuan Diego Flórez, Ainhoa Garmendia, Alessandra MarianelliCoro y Orquesta Titular of the Teatro Real, Madrid
2011[33] - UNITEL/C MAJORVienna (1762)[34] /
Italian
Gordan Nikolić/Carlus PadrissaAnita Rachvelishvili, Maite Alberola, Auxiliadora ToledanoPalau de la Musica Catalana Chamber Choir & bandArt Orchestra
2014[35] - DVD Arthaus Musik/NaxosVienna (1762)[36] /
Italian
Václav Luks/Ondrej HalvelkaBejun Mehta, Eva Liebau, Regula MühlemannCollegium Vocale 1704 & Collegium 1704
2015 – Archiv CDVienna (1762)[37] /
Italian
Laurence EquilbeyFranco Fagioli, Malin Hartelius, Emmanuelle De NegriAccentus Chamber Choir, Insula Orchestra
2018[38] - Blu-ray/DVD ConcordeParis (1774)/
French
Michele Mariotti/
Hofesh Shechter and
John Fulljames
Juan Diego Flórez,
Christiane Karg,
Fatma Said
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Hofesh Shechter Company (dance)
2018[39] - Blu-ray/DVD C MajorParis (1774)[40] /
French
Harry Bickett/
John Neumeier
Dmitry Korchak,
Andriana Chuchman,
Lauren Snouffer
Orchestra and Chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Joffrey Ballet (dance)
2018[41] – Blu-ray/DVD NaxosBerlioz[42] /FrenchRaphaël Pichon/
Aurélien Bory
Marianne Crebassa,
Helene Guilmette,
Lea Desandre
Orchestra and Chorus of the Ensemble Pygmalion

Main partial recordings

Recording data: date and labelsVersion/languageConductor/directorCast: Orpheus,
Eurydice,
Cupid,
A blessed spirit
Orchestra and chorus
1935 – Pathé, Columbia/Music Memoria, Pearl, Arcadia CD (abridged edition)Berlioz/FrenchHenri TomasiAlice Raveau, Germaine Feraldy, Jany DelilleOrchestre Symphonique de Paris and Chorus "Alexis Vlassof"
1945 – ATS LP (Act 2)Ricordi/ItalianArturo ToscaniniNan Merriman, Edna PhilipsNBC Symphony Orchestra and Robert Shaw Chorale
1947 – Decca LP/Grammofono 2000, Dutton CD (abridged recording)Ricordi/ItalianFritz StiedryKathleen Ferrier, Ann Ayars, Zöe VlachopoulosSouthern Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera
1952 – RCA (Volume 46 Complete RCA Collection), Urania CD (Act 2)Ricordi/ItalianArturo ToscaniniNan Merriman, Barbara GibsonNBC Symphony Orchestra and Robert Shaw Chorale
1954 – Heliodor LP (selection)Dörffel/GermanArthur RotherMargarete Klose, Anny Schlemm, Rita StreichMünchner Philharmoniker and Chorus of the Bayerischer Rundfunk, Munich
1960 – Le Chant du Monde LDC LP & CD[43] Berlioz[44] /FrenchCharles BruckRita Gorr, Nadine Sautereau, Edith SeligOrchestre Lyrique de Radio France and Chœur de la Radiodiffusion Française
1960 (or 1962) – EMI LP (selezione)Dörffel/GermanHorst SteinHermann Prey, Pilar Lorengar, Erika KöthBerliner Symphoniker and RIAS Kammerchor, Berlin

References

NotesSources

Notes and References

  1. only for video recordings
  2. if different from the performer of the role of Eurydice
  3. very abridged (Rossi, p. 67)
  4. with many cuts (Rossi, p. 65)
  5. edition not reported in the list edited by Giuseppe Rossi (op. cit.)
  6. the name of the interpreter of the "blessed spirit" is reported in ODE – Opera Discography Encyclopaedia by Carlo Marinelli
  7. according to Stanley Sadie in his review for Gramophone, February 1995, p. 93, 'this performance follows a mixture of the Italian version and the French, including a number of favourite pieces from the latter ... but a very modest number of ballet movements, with none at all at the end'. For his part Rossi does not declare the version followed by this recording.
  8. with very lengthy cuts (Rossi, p. 67). On the contrary, according to Matteo Marazzi it is the Ricordi edition; this statement is also supported by the reviewer (JBS) for Gramophone, November 1993, p. 152
  9. with cuts and additions from the Paris version (Rossi, p. 65)
  10. according to Matteo Marazzi, it is, on the contrary, the Dörffel edition in German, but this is obviously a mistake, as the recording is actually sung in Italian
  11. this is the first stereo recording (Rossi, p. 68)
  12. Giudici writes that, as far as it may be worthy of note, this recording follows, as it were, philologically, the Ricordi edition, "without including passages extracted or reworked from the other" versions: the only exception is leaving out "the aria 'Addio o miei sospiri' at the close of Act 1, substituting for it the orchestral coda existing in the Vienna version" (p.254)
  13. with additions extracted from the Paris version and vocal ornaments inserted by Mackerras himself (Rossi, p. 65), attempting at the "recreation of a credible eighteenth century singing style" (id., p. 68)
  14. This studio recording conducted by Neumann was "the first that followed without cuts or additions the Vienna version according to the critical edition by Anna Amalie Abert and Ludwig Finscher" (Rossi, p. 68)
  15. the inextricable character of the "patchwork" of different versions that has been carried out in this recording, is so described by Elvio Giudici, in a very colourful way: "Orpheus sides with Vienna in 'Chiamo il mio ben così' and with Berlioz revised by Ricordi as to the recitatives of Act 1 in general ...; to the Furies speaking the dialect of Vienna, he responds in the language derived from Berlioz, apart from 'Men tiranno [sic]' where he speaks Viennese; the aria of Act 3 follows Ricordi, but is concluded by the Vienna orchestral coda" (p. 254). "It is however also necessary – adds Giuseppe Rossi for his part, – to mention the sumptuous and lively cut of Solti's nineteenth century taste performance, and the prominence achieved by Horne's rendering of Orpheus, unassailable in terms of technical stature and breathtaking virtuosity in performing the florid passages of Bertoni's aria", Addio, addio, o miei sospiri (p. 68)
  16. [period instruments]
  17. there are, in fact, two different (studio and live) audio recordings, practically contemporaneous with the video recording described in the next item
  18. it is a video recorded contemporaneously with the two audio recordings described in the previous item
  19. the part of Orpheus, transposed down an octave for baritone, is here performed by a Wagnerian heldentenor, while Cupid is sung by a boy soprano, with a general outcome to which Giuseppe Rossi refers as "one of the awkwardest chapters in the discography of the opera" (p. 69)
  20. boy soprano
  21. the Paris dances are added in appendix (Rossi, p. 69)
  22. with the addition of "both the Air de Furie in Act 2, and the trio in Act 3" (Giudici, p. 258)
  23. Live recording by the Hungarian Television, 3 March 1991. Source: Hungaroton
  24. without the final ballet (Rossi, p. 65)
  25. recording of a concerto performance at Le Quartz in Brest; period instruments
  26. "leaves out the final ballet" (ODE – Opera Discography Encyclopaedia di Carlo Marinelli)
  27. recorded live in June 2002 at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris
  28. recording probably drawn from the 2002 performances (Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center) at the University of Maryland
  29. video recording of the staging mounted at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna in January 2008
  30. adaptation – by David Alagna, director, and Frédérico Alagna, scenographer – of the 1774 Paris version: it is called "Absurd" in Paolo Gallarati's review published in La Stampa, Turin, 10 January 2008, and "a travesty to be gingerly avoided" in Robert Croan's (Opera News, June 2010 – vol. 74, n. 12)
  31. the role of Cupid, renamed in this odd edition "Le guide" (the guide), is performed by a baritone
  32. live recording of the performances held at Madrid's Teatro Real, between May and June 2008
  33. [La Fura dels Baus]
  34. Mark Mandel, Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, «Opera News», February 2013 - Vol. 77, no. 13.
  35. Film opera recorded at the Český Krumlov Castle (review http://www.classical-music.com/review/gluck-orfeo-ed-euridice by Max Loppert, "BBC Music magazine", 13 October 2014).
  36. William R. Braun, Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (Vienna version), «Opera News», August 2014 - Vol. 79, no. 2.
  37. Three-disc set presenting both a mashup of the 1762 Vienna and 1774 Paris versions, in Italian (CD 1), and a complete recording of the 1762 version (CD 1 & 2); the first disc matches how the company had performed the opera in concert (cf: Deutsche Grammophon Website; James Manheim's review in AllMusic).
  38. live recording of performances held at La Scala in March 2018.
  39. live recording of performances held at the Chicago Lyric Opera in 2018.
  40. Three of the finale dances are cut (Richard Lawrence, Gluck. Orphée et Eurydice (Pichon. Bicket), «Gramophone», January 2020).
  41. live recording of performances held at the Paris Théâtre national de l'Opéra-Comique on 16 and 18 October 2018.
  42. The overture is replaced with the Larghetto from Gluck’s ballet Don Juan, which there precedes the Dances of the Furies. Moreover the finale is completely rearranged, by cutting the trio 'Tendre Amour' – as Berlioz too did – and the whole dance divertissement. The opera concludes "with the second choral lament from Act 1 and the ensuing Ritournelle, heavily accented" (Richard Lawrence, Gluck. Orphée et Eurydice (Pichon. Bicket), «Gramophone», Gennaio 2020).
  43. recording catalogued TodOpera, p. 295 and p. 647 (accessed 1 August 2010); not listed by Giuseppe Rossi (op. cit.); according to operadis-opera-discography.org (accessed 14 May 2011) it contains "highlights"
  44. http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/CLSIGORR.HTM#12 operadis-opera-discography.org