Opera Society’s Modernised Orphee and Euridice: Reviewed

Cassi reviews Opera Society’s recent production of Gluck’s Orphee and Euridice in a modernised English medium.

Performed on the night of the 15th, 16th and 17th of October at the Byre Theatre, Opera Society’s performance of Gluck’s Orphee and Euridice was an evening of class and talent befitting of St Andrew’s atmosphere. By chance, in the recent summer holidays I had the opportunity to see the original French version of this opera, a mammoth performance that stretched over 2 hours and performed entirely in a language I did not understand. In comparison, the Opera Society’s performance felt refreshingly accessible.

Translated by students in Professor Julia Prest’s Translating French Opera module, Orphee and Euridice was sung in modernised English, yet maintaining the original content and classic story of the struggle of Orphee/Orpheus to rescue their lost loved one from Hades. In addition to the English translation, the performance further appealed to contemporary audiences through its modern twist of setting, with both Orphee and Euridice being members of a modern military, and featuring a lesbian couple rather than the male and female one as found in the original myth and opera.

The Opera Society expressed a distinct curiosity for the impact that this adaptation may have on audience perception of the performance. When walking into the theatre, all were handed a sheet by the usher on which to write our impressions, to be handed in at the end of the performance. Specifically, it asked for opinions on the success of the new English translation, as well as our view on the power balance between the two main characters and its relevance to contemporary audiences.

Whilst not full, the theatre was buzzing with energy, boasting an impressive mixture of audience members, including students, couples and older groups. The open, exposed band of St Andrews’ students brought the audience into close proximity with the highs and lows of the music, drawing them further into the emotional turmoil of the play. The first operatic number was a sea of voices that blended together with immense smoothness, even as individual voices took turns being dominant before merging back into the harmony. With the first major piece expressing a piercing and powerful representation of grief, it was impossible not to be captured as the voices of the performers swelled together.

Credit: Opera Society

The very simplistic use of props complemented the sung performance by focusing concentration on the beauty of the opera. Coloured lights were effectively used to signal the movement between settings, like when Orphee enters the underworld in search of her lost love, and the use of the chorus’ hands sinisterly reaching out from the side curtains as she wanders the hallowed halls were harrowing. The actress who performed as Cupid stuck out as a highlight of the play, showing off her exceptional talent with an incredible mix of playfulness and seriousness that one would expect of the mythical figure.

The climax of the performance proved a testament to the incredible talent of the two leading actresses playing Orphee and Euridice, whose voices proved absolutely angelic. Orphee, as she struggled not to turn and look at her lover, performed with such realistic and moving facial expressions that her grief was impossible not to feel in your soul, only added to by the impressive use of shadows in Euridice’s death scene that captured Orphee’s suffering in a way that was unbelievably striking.

As audience member Heather commented, the performance was “intense and moving, and I think they did a great job of modernising it to make the story more relatable. All of the leads gave a strong performance and I particularly enjoyed the chorus numbers.” I will be on the lookout for upcoming performances by the Opera Society after such a success.

Credit: Opera Society

Comments

comments

94 thoughts on “Opera Society’s Modernised Orphee and Euridice: Reviewed

  1. I have read some good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to create such a excellent informative website.

  2. Hello There. I found your blog the use of msn. This is a really smartly written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to learn extra of your helpful information. Thank you for the post. I will definitely return.

  3. You made some first rate factors there. I regarded on the web for the issue and found most individuals will go along with together with your website.

  4. I’m impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that too few people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy I came across this in my search for something regarding this.

  5. I will also like to mention that most people who find themselves without health insurance are generally students, self-employed and people who are laid-off. More than half of the uninsured are really under the age of 35. They do not experience they are needing health insurance as they are young in addition to healthy. Their own income is frequently spent on real estate, food, plus entertainment. Lots of people that do go to work either full or part time are not offered insurance by way of their jobs so they go without owing to the rising expense of health insurance in america. Thanks for the ideas you share through this site.

  6. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I’m looking to construct my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. thanks a lot

  7. You could definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.

  8. You can definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.

  9. My brother recommended I might like this website. He was once entirely right. This publish actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thank you!

  10. Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success. If you know of any please share. Appreciate it!

  11. I do agree with all the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They are very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for novices. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.

  12. I blog quite often and I truly thank you for your content. This great article has truly peaked my interest. I’m going to book mark your website and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.

  13. I think other web-site proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and wonderful user friendly style and design, let alone the content. You are an expert in this topic!

  14. With every little thing that appears to be developing throughout this subject matter, many of your points of view are generally relatively radical. However, I appologize, but I do not give credence to your whole strategy, all be it exciting none the less. It seems to us that your opinions are actually not entirely justified and in simple fact you are generally your self not thoroughly confident of the point. In any event I did enjoy looking at it.

  15. you are really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you have done a excellent job on this topic!

  16. Greetings! I’ve been following your web site for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Houston Texas! Just wanted to say keep up the excellent job!

  17. The very next time I read a blog, Hopefully it doesn’t disappoint me just as much as this particular one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read through, however I genuinely believed you would probably have something useful to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of moaning about something you could fix if you weren’t too busy seeking attention.

  18. I’m in awe of the author’s capability to make intricate concepts approachable to readers of all backgrounds. This article is a testament to his expertise and dedication to providing useful insights. Thank you, author, for creating such an captivating and illuminating piece. It has been an absolute pleasure to read!

  19. Wow, marvelous blog structure! How long have you been blogging for? you made running a blog glance easy. The full glance of your site is excellent, as well as the content material!

  20. We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with useful info to work on. You have performed an impressive process and our entire group can be grateful to you.

  21. I do accept as true with all of the ideas you have introduced to your post. They’re very convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are too brief for newbies. Could you please lengthen them a little from next time? Thank you for the post.

  22. hey there and thanks for your info ? I have definitely picked up something new from proper here. I did on the other hand experience a few technical issues using this website, as I skilled to reload the website many times previous to I could get it to load properly. I have been thinking about in case your web hosting is OK? Now not that I’m complaining, but slow loading circumstances occasions will very frequently affect your placement in google and could injury your high quality score if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Well I?m including this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for much extra of your respective interesting content. Make sure you update this once more soon..

  23. In line with my observation, after a the foreclosure home is bought at a bidding, it is common to the borrower to still have any remaining unpaid debt on the bank loan. There are many lenders who try to have all expenses and liens repaid by the subsequent buyer. Even so, depending on particular programs, polices, and state legislation there may be many loans which aren’t easily handled through the transfer of personal loans. Therefore, the obligation still remains on the consumer that has got his or her property in foreclosure process. Many thanks for sharing your notions on this website.

  24. Thank you sharing these types of wonderful threads. In addition, the right travel plus medical insurance approach can often eradicate those fears that come with travelling abroad. The medical crisis can shortly become too expensive and that’s certain to quickly decide to put a financial problem on the family finances. Putting in place the best travel insurance package deal prior to leaving is worth the time and effort. Thanks a lot

  25. Another important component is that if you are a mature person, travel insurance intended for pensioners is something you should really consider. The older you are, the more at risk you will be for getting something bad happen to you while abroad. If you are not covered by some comprehensive insurance coverage, you could have a few serious complications. Thanks for giving your suggestions on this website.

  26. I would like to add that in case you do not actually have an insurance policy or perhaps you do not belong to any group insurance, you may well gain from seeking the assistance of a health insurance professional. Self-employed or individuals with medical conditions commonly seek the help of one health insurance brokerage service. Thanks for your writing.

  27. A person essentially lend a hand to make significantly articles I’d state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and up to now? I amazed with the research you made to make this particular put up amazing. Excellent process!

  28. Defіnitely believe that which you stated.
    Ⲩoսr favorite justification appeared tο be on tһe net thе easiest tһing to be aware ߋf.
    I ѕay to yoս, I certainly get annoyed ѡhile people consider worries tһat tһey plainly d᧐ not knoԝ
    about. You managed to hit the nail upon the toρ ass wll as defned ߋut tһe whߋlе thing
    wwithout haing side-effects , people could taқe a signal.
    Ԝill probably bе back tto get moгe. Thanks

    Aⅼso visit my website Slot Gacor

  29. You could definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.

  30. Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be told was a amusement account it. Glance complicated to more introduced agreeable from you! By the way, how could we be in contact?

  31. After research a couple of of the weblog posts in your website now, and I really like your method of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site list and shall be checking again soon. Pls check out my website as properly and let me know what you think.

  32. It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or advice. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article. I want to read even more things about it!

  33. Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your website is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and just could not come across. What a great website.

  34. I was extremely pleased to find this page. I wanted to thank you for ones time for this wonderful read!! I definitely appreciated every part of it and i also have you saved as a favorite to look at new information on your website.

  35. Good day very nice web site!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I am glad to search out so many helpful info right here within the submit, we’d like work out extra strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  36. Have yօu ever tһoսght aƄout writing aan e-book оr guest authoring ߋn otheг blogs?

    I haѵe ɑ blog based սpon on the ѕame ideas you discuss ɑnd woluld
    really likke to һave you share sօme stories/informatiⲟn. I know my audiece wouⅼⅾ enjoy
    ʏour work. If you’re even remotely іnterested, feel free tⲟ shoot
    mе an e mail.

    my hߋmepage :: Slot Pulsa

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

THE STAND