Four dancers perform in red flowing skirts, three of which are suspended from ropes. In the background, a choir dressed in black jumpsuits sing on top of white platforms.

Orpheus and Eurydice

Orpheus and Eurydice

EUROPEAN PREMIERE

Journey to the underworld and back with Opera Australia, presenting Opera Queensland’s production of Orpheus and Eurydice in association with Circa.

Heartbroken Orpheus has the chance to rescue his wife Eurydice from the underworld. But there's one condition: he mustn’t look at her during their long journey home. Can he resist the temptation to gaze into his true love’s eyes?

Soaring vocals, hypnotic visuals and acrobatic feats plunge you into an ancient tale of love, lust and loss. Gramophone Award-winning countertenor Iestyn Davies stars as Orpheus, haunted by visions of Eurydice, performed by Australian soprano Samantha Clarke. As Orpheus descends into insanity, Eurydice’s own descent into the underworld takes magnificent, aerial form.

Circa joins with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a chorus from Scottish Opera for the European premiere of this electrifying production of Gluck’s seminal opera.

Supported by James and Morag Anderson
with additional support from Vivienne and Robin Menzies

Programme

Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

A keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.

Full programme

Gluck Composer

Calzabigi Librettist

Cast & Credits

PerformersCloseOpen
  • Scottish Chamber Orchestra
  • Laurence Cummings
    Conductor
  • Chorus from Scottish Opera
  • Susannah Wapshott
    Chorus Director
  • Iestyn Davies
    Orpheus
  • Samantha Clarke
    Eurydice / Amor
CrewCloseOpen
  • Yaron Lifschitz
    Director & Set Designer
  • Yaron Lifschitz, Bridie Hooper & Circa Ensemble
    Choreographers
  • Alexander Berlage
    Lighting Designer
  • Libby McDonnell
    Costume Designer
  • Boris Bagattini
    Video Designer
Circa EnsembleCloseOpen
  • Rowan Allinson
    Malte Gerhardt
    Lisa Goldsworthy
    Jordan Hart
    Anisa Monsour
    Rosa Mordaunt
    Luke Pearce
    Kimberley Rossi
    Lachlan Sukroo
    Zachery Stephens
Scottish Opera ChorusCloseOpen
  • Soprano
    Clíona Cassidy
    Roisin Lavery
    Frances Morrison-Allen
    Rose Stachniewska
    Amy Strachan
    Monica Toll
    Audrey Tsang
  • Mezzo-soprano
    Caitlin MacKenzie
    Julie Martin-Carter
    Jane Monari
    Sarah Shorter
    Christine Sjölander
    Laura Margaret Smith
  • Tenor
    Raymond Armstrong
    Matthew Kimble
    Christian Schneeberger
    Fraser Simpson
    Connor James Smith
    Cailean Swainson
  • Bass
    Paul Anwyl
    Francis Church
    Steven Faughey
    Phil Gault
    Jonathan Forbes Kennedy
    Douglas Nairne
    Jonathan Sedgwick

Edinburgh International Festival and Opera Australia present Opera Queensland’s Production of Orpheus and Eurydice in Association with Circa

Opera Queensland and Circa acknowledge the assistance of the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Dates & Times

Booking Information

Back to top