Orphée et Euridice

Orphée et Euridice was billed as a heroic drama in three acts with a score by Gluck and a libretto translated by Moline from Calzabigi’s Italian text sung in Vienna in 1764. It had its Paris premiere on 2 August 1774 with many changes in the music dictated by the lack of castrati on the French stage. The work had a profound effect upon the public, and many prominent personages of the day including Jean-Jacques Rousseau had flattering comments to make upon it. Its first run lasted for 45…