
That’s exactly what the Seattle Opera is doing now, which gives the team the chance to tell the story of a marriage between two women. “To my knowledge, no one has presented Gluck’s Orfeo with a woman as a woman.” “Mezzos want to sing that, but always as a dude,” Yates said. Because the role of Orpheus was originally scored for a castrato, it is typically sung by a mezzo-soprano in modern productions, but she is always dressed as a man. In many ways, musical director and librettist Lucy Tucker Yates wanted to preserve the essence of Ranieri de’ Calzabigi’s libretto because of its universal themes of love and loss-but with the role of O the creative team saw an opportunity to explore these themes through an intersectional feminist lens. O + E features both an all-female cast of principal singers and an all-female creative team. O + E, Seattle Opera’s newest chamber production presented by the Programs and Partnerships Department, is a re-imagination of the tale that combines Gluck’s timeless score with a translated, updated English libretto. Gluck’s beloved opera brings to life the classic myth of Orpheus, the artistic demi-god who traveled to the underworld to reclaim his bride Eurydice, who was killed shortly after their wedding. Perhaps for the first time in the history of Christoph Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, a woman will perform as a woman in the role of Orpheus. A groundbreaking adaptation of the legendary protagonist’s descent into grief and subsequent return to grace receives an intimate staging with all-female leading characters and creative team.Cast and creative team of O + E (Lucy Tucker Yates top row left) – photo copyright Philip Newton Journey to hell and back with a new twist on Gluck’s classic telling of Orpheus and Eurydice. Original Libretto by Ranieri de’ CalzabigiĮnglish-language Libretto by Lucy Tucker Yates Learn about ways to give and get involved.Įverything you need to know about attending a Seattle Opera performance.ĭiscover the many ways for people of all ages to connect with opera.Ī chamber opera presented by our Programs & Partnerships Department Pull back the curtain and explore the inner workings of Seattle Opera.ĭonors make Seattle Opera possible. Learn more about upcoming performances in our 2022/23 season. Subscriptions, individual opera tickets, ways to save, and more.
