Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (complete Glyndebourne edition)
1. Kathleen Ferrier, Ann Ayars
Zoe Vlachopoulos / Southern
Philharmonic/ Stiedry
2. Kirsten Flagstad
Geraint Jones Singers / Jones
(Orfeo) Stiedry’s approach ….now seems to accord with modern ideas of how to treat Gluck, not marmoreally as was then the general custom but as live drama. In consequence Ferrier’s “Che farò?” here sounds to today’s ears much more plausible than the famous, more leisurely (later version).” (Gramophone)
“darkly intense reading… Ferrier emerges in full expressiveness…(Pengun Guide)
(Alceste) “speaks up powerfully for the Italian version…. with a good deal of fire and spirit….But of course the real point of this recording is the assumption of the title-role by Kirsten Flagstad….It is a monumental performance in its way, with some spells of wonderfully free-flowing, open tone, and a passionate involvement …There are grand, noble things, of course, which any lover of her singing will want to hear, and it is a performance such as only a great singer could produce” (Gramophone)
Christoph Willibald Gluck
Orfeo ed Euridice (abridged)
Act One
1 Ah! Se Intorno A Quest’ Urna Funesta – Chorus) 3:54
2 Amici, Quel Lamento (Orfeo) 0:43
3 Euridice! Euridice! Ah! Questo Nome Sanno (Orfeo) 2:35
4 Piango Il Mio Ben Cosi (Orfeo) 2:18
5 Dalla Cetra Tua A’ Dolci Suoni (Euridice) 1:44
6 Gli Squardi Trattieni (Euridice) 1:02
7 Che Disse! Ch’ascoltai! (Orfeo) 1:24
Act Two
8 Prelude – Orchestra) 1:55
9 Chi Mai Dell’Erebo – Chorus) 1:43
10 Deh! Placatevi Con Me – Orfeo with Chorus) 2:35
11 Misero Giovane! – Chorus) 0:40
12 Mille pene, ombre sdegnose…) 3:52
13 Che Puro Ciel! (Orfeo) 5:05
14 Vieni a’ regni del ripsoso – Chorus) 2:33
Act Three
15 Ah! Vieni O Diletta (Orfeo) 2:36
16 Vieni Con Me O Cara (Orfeo and Euridice) 3:48
17 Ah, Potess’io Saper (Orfeo, Euridice, Amor) 1:30
18 Che Fiero Momento! (Orfeo, Euridice, Amor) 2:46
19 Ah! Per Me Il Duol Ricomincia! (Orfeo, Euridice, Amor) 1:24
20 Che Faro (Orfeo) 3:17
21 Ah! Finisca e per sempre (Orfeo) 2:27
22 Gaudio, Gaudio Son Al Cuore (Orfeo, Euridice, Amor) 3:30
23 Ballet – Final Chorus: Trionfi Amore (Chorus) 1:04
Kathleen Ferrier (Orfeo)
Ann Ayars (Eurydice) • Zoe Vlachopoulos (Amor)
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
Southern Philharmonic Orchestra
Fritz Stiedry, conductor
Highlights from Alceste
24 Popoli di Tessaglia 2:35
25 Io non chiedo. Eterni Dei 6:53
26 Ove son!… 2:43
27 Ombre, Larve, Compagne di morte 4:05
28 Ah per questo gia stanco mio core 5:24
Kirsten Flagstad, soprano
Geraint Jones Singers and Orchestra
Geraint Jones, conductor
