Morte dOrfeo - selected scenes

Andrew Lawrence-King

Historical staging of Early Opera Research, Productions & Training

Action! Action! Action!

STEFANO LANDI LA MORTE D’ORFEO TRAGICOMEDIA PASTORALE (1619)

The action takes place after the story of Orfeo & Euridice that we know from Monteverdi.

Orfeo is celebrating his birthday with a party of the gods; but he is killed by the Menadi at the command of Bacco, who wasn’t invited to the party; and then Giove transfers him to heaven.

1.1Teti, Queen of the Sea, foretells the death of Orfeo, commanded by cruel Fato.

1.2The river Hebro sees the darkness vanish.

1.3Three little breezes, the Euretti sing to wake up Aurora, the Dawn. There is a dark cloud, but the Euretti sing it away, because today is Orfeo’s birthday.

The Shepherds, Coro de Pastori, greet the dawn.

2.1Orfeo celebrates his birthday.

2.2He orders Hebro to invite to his party all the gods, except Bacco. Bacco always makes trouble.

2.3Mercurio, messenger of the gods, reports that Giove foresees some disaster. He brings heavenly nectar for Orfeo, who fails to drink it.

2.4Apolline, Orfeo’s father, tells Orfeo not to be tempted by women, but to follow the path of virtue.

The Satyrs, Coro de Satiri, come to the party, and look for wine to drink.

3.1Bacco, god of wine, is offended not to be invited to the party and wants revenge. Nisa, one of the Menadi, Bacco’s female followers, tries to calm him.

3.2Nisa & the Menadi realise that Orfeo has abandoned them, and decide to kill him.

3.3Two shepherds, Ireno and Lincastro see a swan attacked by a cruel flock of birds.

3.4Bacco sends Furore to ensure that Orfeo is killed.

The Shepherds, Coro de Pastori, hear awful cries, and see monsters and fierce beasts.

4.1The Gods leave Orfeo’s party. He becomes melancholy, and grieves for Euridice.

4.2Furore and the crazed Menadi hunt for Orfeo to kill him.

4.3Calliope, Orfeo’s mother, is sad, and wants her son to console her.

4.4Fileno, as the messenger, tells her of Orfeo’s death.

The Shepherds, Coro de Pastori, lament.

5.1The ghost of Orfeo arrives in Hell: Caronte, the boatman of Hell, is not happy to see him again.

5.2Mercurio introduces Orfeo to Euridice, who no longer recognises him. Caronte gives him the Water of Forgetfulness to drink.

5.3Shepherds, Coro de Pastori, and gods Coro de Dei, salute Orfeo’s arrival in heaven. Giove welcomes him, and Fosforo leads the celebrations.

Renaissance voice-ranges

Renaissance Soprano includes modern Soprano and Mezzo. I divide them into Archilei (singing roles with fast notes, sometimes high) and Andreini (acting roles with dramatic characterisation and emotional contrasts).

Renaissance Alto is normally a high, light Tenor (Altino). It can be sung by modern high tenor, counter-tenor, or low female alto.

Renaissance Tenor has the range of a modern second tenor or high baritone. The colour of a tenor is needed, but there are sometimes low notes. I divide them into Peri (acting roles) and Rasi (singing roles with fast notes).

Renaissance Bass is normally baritone range, but sometimes needs extreme low notes.

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