Operas based on the
Orphean myths, and especially the story of Orpheus' journey to the underworld to rescue his wife,
Eurydice, were amongst the earliest examples of the art form and continue to be written into the 21st century. Orpheus, the
Greek hero whose songs could charm both gods and wild beasts and coax the trees and rocks into dance, has achieved an emblematic status as a metaphor for the power of music.[1] The following is an annotated list of operas (and works in related genres) based on his myth. The works are listed with their composers and arranged by date of first performance. In cases where the opera was never performed, the approximate date of composition is given.
17th century
1600 –
Jacopo Peri – Euridice, the first genuine opera whose music survives to this day.[2]
1996 –
Lorenzo Ferrero – La nascita di Orfeo, musical action in one act, libretto by Lorenzo Ferrero and Dario Del Corno, premiered at the
Teatro Filarmonico
21st century
2001 –
Jonathan Dove – L'altra Euridice, a 30-minute opera in one act for baritone and ensemble, based on a story by
Italo Calvino, which retells the Orphean myth from the perspective of
Pluto, god of the underworld.[6]
Operas based on the
Orphean myths, and especially the story of Orpheus' journey to the underworld to rescue his wife,
Eurydice, were amongst the earliest examples of the art form and continue to be written into the 21st century. Orpheus, the
Greek hero whose songs could charm both gods and wild beasts and coax the trees and rocks into dance, has achieved an emblematic status as a metaphor for the power of music.[1] The following is an annotated list of operas (and works in related genres) based on his myth. The works are listed with their composers and arranged by date of first performance. In cases where the opera was never performed, the approximate date of composition is given.
17th century
1600 –
Jacopo Peri – Euridice, the first genuine opera whose music survives to this day.[2]
1996 –
Lorenzo Ferrero – La nascita di Orfeo, musical action in one act, libretto by Lorenzo Ferrero and Dario Del Corno, premiered at the
Teatro Filarmonico
21st century
2001 –
Jonathan Dove – L'altra Euridice, a 30-minute opera in one act for baritone and ensemble, based on a story by
Italo Calvino, which retells the Orphean myth from the perspective of
Pluto, god of the underworld.[6]