THE WORLD'S FINEST OPERA
BALLET, THEATRE AND MUSIC
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice
Janet Baker (Orfeo); Elisabeth Speiser (Euridice); Elizabeth Gale (Amore)
British mezzo-soprano, Dame Janet Baker, chose to retire from the operatic stage singing the title role in Sir Peter Hall's acclaimed production of Orfeo ed Euridice. This 1982 recording from Glyndebourne, where Dame Janet appropriately began her professional career, proved a suitable crowning glory to the career of one of the great singing actresses of our age. Dame Janet's realisation of Orfeo, the grieving musician from Greek mythology, who follows his beloved wife Euridice to the depths of Hades in an attempt to bring her back from the dead, is totally convincing “… a quite staggering performance …” (MusicWeb International)
DVD
Genre: Opera
Release Date: 01/10/2023
Sound Formats:
Ratio: 4:3
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, ES
Catalogue Number: OA1372D
Conductor(s):
Raymond Leppard
Raymond Leppard
Orchestra(s):
London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Artist(s):
Janet Baker; Elisabeth Speiser; Elizabeth Gale; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Raymond Leppard
Janet Baker; Elisabeth Speiser; Elizabeth Gale; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Raymond Leppard
"For so many reasons, this is a production to savour. Intense performances of emotive music in classical settings: symbolism by the bucket load: theatrical gestures that make you almost cry out for joy ... this production was Dame Janet Baker’s last public operatic appearance. If you thought she was good, then, whatever else you have seen her in, ‘you ain’t seen nothin’ yet’. This is a quite staggering performance demonstrating beyond doubt that despite evidence to the contrary, in the 1980s there did exist divas who could act. Her commitment is always complete. Great performances. Great theatre." (Musicweb International)
"A must for opera-goers" (The Sunday Telegraph)
" One of her finest and most moving portrayals" (TV Times)
"The settings, including some marvellously atmospheric designs by John Bury, do much to enhance the atmosphere of the performance without over-elaborating the basically simple construction of the music or adding any modern glosses or interpretations to the drama... The singing cast is headed by Dame Janet Baker as Orfeo, a landmark performance which it would be hard to imagine ever being bettered... Certainly no counter-tenor has ever managed to make the same impassioned emotional impact that Baker does here. This is one of those DVDs that should never be allowed to go out of circulation." (Musicweb International)
"A must for opera-goers" (The Sunday Telegraph)
" One of her finest and most moving portrayals" (TV Times)
"The settings, including some marvellously atmospheric designs by John Bury, do much to enhance the atmosphere of the performance without over-elaborating the basically simple construction of the music or adding any modern glosses or interpretations to the drama... The singing cast is headed by Dame Janet Baker as Orfeo, a landmark performance which it would be hard to imagine ever being bettered... Certainly no counter-tenor has ever managed to make the same impassioned emotional impact that Baker does here. This is one of those DVDs that should never be allowed to go out of circulation." (Musicweb International)
Janet Baker (Orfeo); Elisabeth Speiser (Euridice); Elizabeth Gale (Amore)
British mezzo-soprano, Dame Janet Baker, chose to retire from the operatic stage singing the title role in Sir Peter Hall's acclaimed production of Orfeo ed Euridice. This 1982 recording from Glyndebourne, where Dame Janet appropriately began her professional career, proved a suitable crowning glory to the career of one of the great singing actresses of our age. Dame Janet's realisation of Orfeo, the grieving musician from Greek mythology, who follows his beloved wife Euridice to the depths of Hades in an attempt to bring her back from the dead, is totally convincing “… a quite staggering performance …” (MusicWeb International)
DVD
Genre: Opera
Release Date: 01/10/2023
Sound Formats:
Ratio: 4:3
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, ES
Catalogue Number: OA1372D
Conductor(s):
Raymond Leppard
Raymond Leppard
Orchestra(s):
London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Artist(s):
Janet Baker; Elisabeth Speiser; Elizabeth Gale; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Raymond Leppard
Janet Baker; Elisabeth Speiser; Elizabeth Gale; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Raymond Leppard
"For so many reasons, this is a production to savour. Intense performances of emotive music in classical settings: symbolism by the bucket load: theatrical gestures that make you almost cry out for joy ... this production was Dame Janet Baker’s last public operatic appearance. If you thought she was good, then, whatever else you have seen her in, ‘you ain’t seen nothin’ yet’. This is a quite staggering performance demonstrating beyond doubt that despite evidence to the contrary, in the 1980s there did exist divas who could act. Her commitment is always complete. Great performances. Great theatre." (Musicweb International)
"A must for opera-goers" (The Sunday Telegraph)
" One of her finest and most moving portrayals" (TV Times)
"The settings, including some marvellously atmospheric designs by John Bury, do much to enhance the atmosphere of the performance without over-elaborating the basically simple construction of the music or adding any modern glosses or interpretations to the drama... The singing cast is headed by Dame Janet Baker as Orfeo, a landmark performance which it would be hard to imagine ever being bettered... Certainly no counter-tenor has ever managed to make the same impassioned emotional impact that Baker does here. This is one of those DVDs that should never be allowed to go out of circulation." (Musicweb International)
"A must for opera-goers" (The Sunday Telegraph)
" One of her finest and most moving portrayals" (TV Times)
"The settings, including some marvellously atmospheric designs by John Bury, do much to enhance the atmosphere of the performance without over-elaborating the basically simple construction of the music or adding any modern glosses or interpretations to the drama... The singing cast is headed by Dame Janet Baker as Orfeo, a landmark performance which it would be hard to imagine ever being bettered... Certainly no counter-tenor has ever managed to make the same impassioned emotional impact that Baker does here. This is one of those DVDs that should never be allowed to go out of circulation." (Musicweb International)
