Relationship to Chaconne clarified by Barbara Horgan
345. Orpheus und Eurydike (Orfeo ed Euridice) 1963
Opera in Three Acts and Five Scenes
Music
Christoph Willibald Gluck (Orfeo ed Euridice, produced 1762, with ballet music from the Paris production of 1774). Libretto by Raniero da Calzabigi, translated by Hans Swarowsky
Choreography
George Balanchine
Production
Directed and choreographed by George Balanchine. Scenery and costumes designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian
Premiere
November 16, 1963, Hamburgische Staatsoper, Hamburg. Danced by Ballett der Hamburgischen Staatsoper. Conductor: Janos Kulka
Cast
SINGERS: Orpheus, Ursula Boese; Eurydike, Doris Jung; Amor, Ria Urban; and others. DANCERS: SCENE 1: Shepherds and Shepherdesses, 7 women, 4 men. SCENE 2: Furies, 12 women, 12 men. SCENE 3: Night, Angèle Albrecht; 8 Spirits (women), 4 Shadows (women). SCENE 5: CHACONNE: Christa Kempf, Heinz Clauss; Albrecht; Erika Czarnecki, Falco Kapuste; Wilfried Schumann; 9 women, 6 men; PAS DE TROIS: Uta Graf, Heidi Korf, Helmut Baumann; CUPID AND CHERUBS (PAS DE CINQ): Henni Vanhaiden, 4 women; PAS DE DEUX: Dulce Anaya, Rainer Kochermann; Marilyn Burr, Peter van Dyk
Performance Type
Opera
See Also
*170. Orpheus and Eurydice (Orfeo ed Euridice), 399. Orfeo ed Euridice, 400. Chaconne
The CHACONNE of this production, directed and choreographed by Balanchine at the invitation of Rolf Liebermann, formed the basis for the ballet Chaconne [400], first performed by the New York City Ballet in 1976.
Additional Productions
Revisions
1973, Théâtre National de l’Opéra, Paris: Choreography from Hamburg, 1963, performed in a new production of the opera (not directed by Balanchine).
Other Versions
1936, Metropolitan Opera (danced by American Ballet, as American Ballet Ensemble)
Derivation of the ballet Chaconne provided by Balanchine
170. Orpheus and Eurydice (Orfeo ed Euridice) 1936
Opera in Two Acts and Four Scenes
Music
Christoph Willibald Gluck (Orfeo ed Euridice, produced 1762, with ballet music from the Paris production of 1774). Libretto by Raniero da Calzabigi
Choreography
George Balanchine
Production
Stage production conceived by George Balanchine and Pavel Tchelitchew. Scenery and costumes by Pavel Tchelitchew. Scenery painted by Joseph Novak
Premiere
May 22, 1936, Metropolitan Opera, New York. Danced by American Ballet Ensemble. Conductor: Richard Hageman
Cast
SINGERS: Orpheus, Anna Kaskas; Eurydice, Jeanne Pengelly; Amor, Maxine Stellman; and others. DANCERS: Orpheus, Lew Christensen; Eurydice, Daphne Vane; Amor, William Dollar; Shepherds and Nymphs, Furies and Ghosts from Hades, Heroes from Elysium, Followers of Orpheus, corps de ballet.
Act I: SCENE I. At the tomb of Eurydice. SCENE 2. Entrance to Hades.
Act II: SCENE I. The Elysian Fields. SCENE 2. The Gardens of the Temple of Love.
Performance Type
Opera
See Also
345. Orpheus und Eurydike (Orfeo ed Euridice), 399. Orfeo ed Euridice, 400. Chaconne
An original production staged by Balanchine at the Metropolitan; the singers were invisible in the orchestra pit while the dancers performed the action on stage; atmospheric scenic effects ended with a vast night-sky of stars. The innovative and controversial production was presented only twice.
Balanchine reconceived and directed Orpheus and Eurydice for the Hamburgische Staatsoper in 1963; this all-new choreography.was performed in a new production of the Théâtre National de l’Opéra, Paris, in 1973 and the Chicago Lyric Opera in 1975 and forms the basis for the ballet Chaconne [400], first presented by the New York City Ballet in 1976.
