Claudio Monteverdi - L'Orfeo

[Garrick415]

I have watched this several times now, transfixed by it. I just love it.

[0casteloencantado0]

for heaven's sake! can't they just stand still, wear period costumes, and sing without bouncing through a minimalist set anymore?

[triarius]

Bloody ORGASM!

(Beethovens, Brahmses and Chopins of this world - move over and die! Anybody sees any worthwhile PROGRESS in those last 300 years? ;-)

[liana563]

choreography is the only part i do not like

[liana563]

savall is excellent

[liana563]

everything is very good, they have really excellent voices,orchestra is pretty good too, just staging is very stupid. Who staged it, they need to find somebody else

[Pinkisawrus]

are they blue or is it the lighting?!

[Singabus66]

Did anyone else notice at 6:31 he began singing in mid jump?

[oranteman]

An amazing production which you can watch in so many ways. Look above the dancers and just take in the orchestra. Marvel at Keenlyside's full talents of voice, dance, and acting. I'm not a dancer so I tend to watch the faces. When I view with my eyes focused at shoulder level the dance and hand movements amplify and move me greatly.  Give it a try several times and see if it works for you.

[davidebit1961]

mi piace molto anche questa operazione di Jacobs sull'Orfeo. certo non gradite a molti, bisogna pero' dire che le coreografie della Brown sono il frutto di una grande passione per la Musica e la Danza. Ammirevole la performance dei cantanti che in questa occasione eccezionale si sono distinti in cio' che definirei, e sono sicuro che Monteverdi sara' daccordo, " danzar cantando"!!

[falernoducande1961]

BASTA CON QUESTI INSULSI REGISTI E INETTI SCENOGRAFI STRAPAGATI::::MAI SENTITO PARLARE DEL GALLI BIBBIENA E DEL TORELLI? DOCUMENTATEVI:::POVERO MONTEVERDI....... 

STOP the senseless DIRECTORS AND DESIGN inept overpaid ..... NEVER HEARD OF THE TORELLI AND GALLI BIBBIENA? Study it ....... ....... POOR MONTEVERDI

[BaroqueJazzPlays]

@falernoducande1961 Tra René Jacobs e Stephen Stubbs produzioni, devo dire di Stubbs una composizione classier e più autentica di personaggi e ... Jacobs produzione mi lascia freddo ...

[falernoducande1961]

BASTA CON QUESTI INSULSI REGISTI E INETTI SCENOGRAFI STRAPAGATI::::MAI SENTITO PARLARE DEL GALLI BIBBIENA E DEL TORELLI? DOCUMENTATEVI:::POVERO MONTEVERDI.......

[papillondenuit1970]

amazing!

[BambzMi]

gay 

[amoxtlacatl]

@BambzMi

Intolerant homophobe.

[nonnopirro52]

a me piace

[melisandedebussy]

buena version musicalemnte, pero la puesta en escena es bien horrorosa jajajajajaa

[Katara888Energy]

@melisandedebussy

Simples, angelos.

[sas147741]

@melisandedebussy Por que te parece horrorosa?

[melisandedebussy]

@sas147741 porque el vestuario no me parece bonito en lo absoluto, los movimientos dan la sensacion de caos, de desorden, siendo q aqui no ha pasado ninguna tragedia aun, todo lo contrario se esta demostrando alegria.... no es una representacion fidedigna de la musica de monteverdi

[amoxtlacatl]

@melisandedebussy

¿Tragedia en este momento de L'Orfeo?

Aquí, al fin del acto I y comienzo del II, hay alegría porque Eurídice finalmente le dio el sí a Orfeo y por la boda.

Jacobs y Brown no se equivocan aquí, como tampoco Savall en:

/watch?v=15QHRChEbGc

La tragedia viene más entrado el acto II, como nos enseñan aquí Harnoncourt y Ponnelle, cuando la mensajera anuncia la muerte de Eurídice:

/watch?v=CEp56EkDrXE

ES representación fidedigna.

[kennykiller911]

ahh.. so sad.. do they have epilepsy?

[lowemgrim]

If some things are just fantastic, this production surely belongs to that group. As always it is a matter of opinion and sensibility. Dance is not to be explained, either you feel it or not. The Opera itself, well...it is just superb and the tone just perfect for the voices. Contemporary productions of this quality are needed, we need our memories. I do appreciate opinions on more "traditional" approaches: for the initiate they help putiing things in perspective. Final comment: buy the DVD!

[clitemnestro]

Un mamarracho la coreografía.

[nonnopirro52]

@clitemnestro mamarracho= sclazzorofongaccio in italiano|

[amoxtlacatl]

@nonnopirro52

Lo stesso e peggio ancora hanno detto quasi cento anni fa sulla coreografia originale di Nižinskij per la première di La sagra della primavera di Stravinskij, che puoi vedere ricostituita qui:

watch?v=bjX3oAwv_Fs

e qui:

watch?v=XTPGRIkjqtc

Forse vi sono ragioni valide che ispirano a recreare una coreografia dannata quasi cento anni fa.

Forse vi sono ragioni valide che ispirano me e tanti altri a godire di questa coreografia del 21essimo secolo per un'opera del seicento.

[amoxtlacatl]

@clitemnestro

Algo así y aún peor dijeron hace casi cien años de la coreografía original de Nizhinski para el estreno de La consagración de la primavera de Stravinski, que puedes ver recreada aquí:

watch?v=bjX3oAwv_Fs

y aquí:

watch?v=XTPGRIkjqtc

Por algo quizá se recrea desde hace años y aún hoy aquella coreografía despreciada hace casi cien años.

Por algo quizá somos muchos los que disfrutamos esta coreografía del siglo XXI aplicada a una obra del siglo XVII.

[davehshs]

The singing is wonderful. The choreography is ... choreography. It is not dancing -- certainly not in any sense that would have been recognized by Monteverdi or that goes with the music, IMO. There is no grace or flow to it. It would be better suited to Stravinsky.

[olgushka07]

@youlupukki yes..

[walkcordatus]

Oh how wonderful is this?!?!?! Thank you for sharing!

[rechasua]

It's so amusing! I can't stop smiling. XD

[fhurvhur]

Godly music, don't get the choreography though.

[Jaydoggy531]

@youlupukki

I find it incredibly disrespectful for you to imply that I said something I didn't; I did not mention Monteverdi. I was talking about stage directors (and others) who promote new stagings of old works by means of insulting and putting down other version. I actually have no problem with modernized productions or modern art, but I do have a problem with egotistical people who put down others to promote themselves. I respectfully ask that you remove your false accusation.

[olgushka07]

@Jaydoggy531 i agree with you..

[MegaDocalex]

Which air? i'm not familiar with this opera.

[WOLFMEANN]

han matado a esta fantastica opera ,realizandola en version moderna

[leduck75]

alas, such ungly costumes!

[Jaydoggy531]

I find that if one has to promote his or her stagings/choreography by means of making fun of ways of the old and insulting it... then there isn't much substance to it. I'd be able to take modernizations and alternate stagings more seriously if they weren't so egotistical about it, and put down other peoples' hard work.

[sogalep]

If you watch carefully (not really) you´ll see that what they didn´t spend on the set and costumes they tried to compensate with the complex coreography that makes no sense.

If you need a lack of set to concentrate on the music, then I´m afraid you have a serious attention deficit. And besides, wouldn´t it make more sense if they stood completely still, then? Or fancy coreography isn´t as "distracting" as a good set?

[wcbroccoli]

At least they didn't mess with the music. 

[dalifer]

Jacobs is a musical GENIUS but the choreography is absolutely unimaginative. The whole staging is an eye sore...!!!

[philomel]

I'm glad the spare set allows us to focus more on the beauty of Monterverdi's music and the great musicians who interpret it beautifully.

[onotuoedaul]

i HATE these modern conceptions

[Devesserecosi]

O_O

[BenThomasFoster]

renaissance music you can still hear the medieval influence amazing this songs like the elvis of pachabel's style of music

[jeferson0chagas]

no tienes màs?

[jeferson0chagas]

bello!!!

[rivergirlie]

keenlyside moves amazingly well for a singer - mind you, his acting ability is renowned, plus he's married to a ballerina. i think this wonderful production has absolute integrity and conviction. it's a visual feast and the performances are fabulous. what's the problem?

[NotHomelessAnymore]

Musically this blows Savall's away in my opinion, but the Savall version was far better staged.

[amoxtlacatl]

@NotHomelessAnymore

Interesting. I like the Savall version better musically, yet I find both stagings superb - and am actually a little more inclined for the choreography in the Jacobs' version.

The Savall choreography is simply and ecstatically beautiful, but seeing Orpheus dance with the other singers is a treat.

[Greengate777]

This is a self-indulgent and egocentric interpretation of a masterpiece. The director managed to make everything about his vision, and not about the story, or the music. I for one am kinda getting tiered of the "who can be more weird" modern interpretations. Want to see how it should be done? Look up Savall’s version of it.

[amoxtlacatl]

@Greengate777

I beg to differ.

Stage directors enrich our understanding and imagination about the work.

Sometimes, to be faithful to a work you have to be UNfaithful to it.

Also, read RevoltingLibrarian's comment - deservedly the highest rated comment on this video.

"The reality is that, in the age of mechanical reproduction, live performance of these operas will DIE unless there are fresh, and even unconventional, interpretations."

Savall? Of course!

And Jacobs, too.

[flibbertergibbet]

Great to hear this done by a high baritone rather than a tenor singing too low in his voice to give the sound any real colour or passion.

[rateingyou]

this blows i got to write a paper on this faggot ass

[eurydike]

he looks like one of the dancers:-) incredible

[jeanpaul20012]

singt da Ian Bostidge mit?

[melisandedebussy]

me enamoréee del orfeo, yo kiero uno asi para miii! jajajaja

[amoxtlacatl]

@melisandedebussy

Pues coquetéale :D Igual ya se le olvidó Euridice jajaja

[mezzoanghy]

where is this production? Jacobs with which orchestra? and when?

[sagransj]

@mezzoanghy: This was a 1998 production at Théâtre royal de la Monnaie (Koninklijke Muntschouwburg) in Brussels. I'm not sure about the orchestra.

[JuanPorteno]

[Cont. 03] Choruses usually incomprehensible. Good idea wouldve been: present gist by crystal-clear-speaking precentor, then have chorus repeat, dance, mime. Prob. so in classical Greek drama. Would audiences have sat thru day-long sessions with no inkling of proceedings? (v. Noel Cs dictum a propos, tho foreign language no help.) Theatrical common sense would seem basic requirement, also in opera. Not music alone. Too late.

Still, not bad first approach.

Hints, info gratefully received.

[JuanPorteno]

[Cont. 02] 1615 edition omits Orphs end by Maenads, prob. for sake of happier ending: mistake. Orph (historical?) inspires little consensus, but a controversial dude. Eurydice too (v Robt. Graves.) Originally a religious mystery?

Cant help wondering, am I missing parts? Ending seems rather sudden, half-baked. Opinion: opera should be consistent, satisfying drama, not just singers blaring away unintelligibly and sketchy plots. Mimed if necessary- alongside. [v. 03]

[JuanPorteno]

01. Am translating/ adapting Orfeo (Spanish), transcribing in modern notation.

Script: terse, often highest quality, yet also contradictory. Poor Eurydice doesnt get much singing space even at start, and what little she does- 2 short goes- sounds pretty weird: a squandered chance (Monteverdi to blame also.) To limit female participation?

Seem to be glaring omissions, e.g. in-between-situations; return to surface, arrival, final loss; &c. &c.; inconsistencies in ending, [v continuation.]

[CarlGauss]

Epic costume fail

[eurydike]

from which year is this recording?

[JuanPorteno]

Monteverdi seems to be enjoying a revival these days. Quite rightly— he was a fine musician. I however find him a little monotonic, generally sticking to a small variety of keys: D, G minor; C, F major, without of course incurring in the crass sin of limiting his discourse to the I-IV-V routine. But we may be in presence of that ancient problem with instruments of fixed tuning, not finally, satisfactorily solved till the great Bachs splendid, monumental Wohltemperirtes Clavier (1722).

[georgexkr]

@JuanPorteno breathe. its okay.

[Ammazzadraghi]

Ma quanto è carina da uno a dieci la ballerina coi capelli corti? *_* UNDICI!

[voxhunden]

The music does lack a dimension without the baroque tuning.

[mrmatthewkelly]

i love this. never heard it before. Sicley - slow!? dem recorders are smokin!

[Sicley]

soooooooo slow.

[JuanPorteno]

Thanks for the info. Isnt she a girl? Actually, shed seem to be a mezzo.

Seems not everyone is in favour of the production. I personally am in favour of this kind of approach, get plenty of movement, and little or no scenery. Opera can be so stodgy otherwise.

[sjokolade777]

Choreographie d'une stupidite flagrante pour une musique et un theme de cette dimension exceptionelle.

[JuanPorteno]

Keenlyside. I wouldve guessed he was Italian, but what a surprise. Very good indeed. But Im especially fascinated by the short redhaired girl. Voice simply celestial. Who is she?

This Rene Jacobs seems quite something. Heard bits from Dido and Aeneas by him.

[sversyck]

The "girl" is Belgian soprano Anne Cambier.

[Laurentiius]

I guess that they spent so many €'s on their suits that they couldn't afford shoes too. J/K ◜◔‿◔◝

[Sailorstayfree]

La espiosa de Simon se llama Zenaida como mi

Madre!

[hcsabi88]

but keenlyside is 50 years old, isn't he? or this video was made 20 years ago? incredible...

[drtmuir]

More like ten years ago-- and I would bet that Keenlyside could still do this-- maybe not vocally, but he could still do all the jumping around. ;)

[elephantbarbiegirl]

agree. he was recently seen sword fighting in Don Carlo. still in great shape and great voice

[nattyscoob]

do we know which instruments were used in this piece?

[hotwill31]

Usaually,RJacobs is working with old instruments...not sure here..make a little search on net

[marksted]

Look up "orchestra of Monteverdi" and you will get the whole list. Jacobs uses these old instruments in this production. Hope this helps

[drtmuir]

I saw this production when it came to the US, and I can't tell you how beautiful it was, dramatically and musically. It absolutely haunted me.

[drtmuir]

@drtmuir PS, When I saw it, the band was Les Arts Florissants instead of Jacobs' group.

[hugovdg]

the musical performance - superb, as one would expect of Renee Jacobs. -- choreographically, a disaster: how could one probably miss the opportunities for the fanciest imaginable footwork that Monteverdi's rhythmic designs so suggestively offer? the dancers are directed to virtually march! yet still, many thanks for an outstanding post

[hillbilly1989]

wtf are they doing?

[vilepete]

dancing... isn't that extremely obvious? do we have to watch always the same predictable gestures and movements in predictable specific contexts?

[ripleyash]

fantastico

[vlcakkazan]

Vše je tu prostě geniální! Děkuji!

[risterion]

El genio de Monteverdi es intemporal.

[KremeDeMentia]

Too many Dancing Robot moves. I just feel like yelling, "oh stop that!". Methinks i prefer the Savall version.....exeunt.

[blair2e]

magnivicant.

[aabbccddeeffgghugo]

otro nivel!!!!!

[Schollistico]

Simon Keenlyside is one of the best baritones today and this performance is very very beautiful; i love this kind of "canon" dancing at the beginning. It is gorgeous.

[Gpost3]

Kedves Ladiszka!

Nagyon jó izléssel válogatott videoid vannak!

Rendkívül élvezetes volt végignézni!

Köszönöm

[ladiszka3]

Köszi!

[MozartIsFancylalala]

The duet at 3:47 is awsome with the male castrati and soprano!  great gob you two!

[dorisboy52]

more a countertenor than castrato...lol

[MozartIsFancylalala]

wird dancing lol

[brian317usa1]

what a perfect voice!!!! Simon Keenlyside is really amazing!!!

[Trompicavalas]

Sometimes one wish youtube had only audio 8-)

[jem2017]

David Byrne called.

[brian317usa1]

simon keenlyside has that glorious and powerful singing voice. Perfect!!!!

[charlesbonares]

Monteverdi became just a reason to this scene.

Opera became just like a pantomima.

Orfeo became one more copyright product.

[brianusamd]

simon keenlyside is simply inspiring. he's got great singing voice . perfection!

[Sailorstayfree]

The costimes is like Armani collezione 1985

[Sailorstayfree]

Mira tu wagneriano si no exsistiera Moneteverdi, NO existiera la opera, y probablemente tampoco, El wagernerianismo operatico. saludos desde caracas! !Viva Monteverdi El padre de la Opera!!

[garcilaso1971]

Simon Keenlyside es un Papageno y un Orfeo sin parangón. Magistral.

[NotHomelessAnymore]

Simon Keenlyside is really outstanding judging from this and his performance as Papageno in the Magic Flute.

[RebelAvenger6]

Bunch of talentless wankers...

[drtmuir]

I saw this at the Brooklyn Academy of Music a few years ago. It was unspeakably beautiful, one of the best experiences I've ever had. I don't understand the comment about it being "modernized." Do you mean the costumes and choreography?

[utterskagg]

Rene Jacobs is a fucking genious!

[anselgoya]

yo no conocia esta opera,me considero wagneriano,pero el performance esta padre y las voces geniales.

[revoltinglibrarian]

Oh no! Orfeo isn't holding a lyre and standing in one place with his arm aloft! The sacrilege! And where are the plastic trees and canvas painted with cows to tell me I'm in a field! Help - I'm lost!

LMAO.

The reality is that, in the age of mechanical reproduction, live performance of these operas will DIE unless there are fresh, and even unconventional, interpretations. I, for one, am digging it. The only sad thing is the videography which destroys the intent of the choreography.

[alfredobecht]

@revoltinglibrarian i agree

i still watch it astounded...

in Humberto Eco´s words...

Perfect in his imperfection...

[pollaccio]

i cannot understand WHY they have to modernize an opera like this. We are talking about Monteverdi, i don't see the link with these stupid clowns.

[idraote]

I can't begin to think about the complexity of the rehearsals for this.

I'm not against the choreography but it seems to get in the way of the music: a group of dancers should have made most of the steps with the singers just blending in: Monteverdi is just to difficult to allow the singing and the dancing to happen at the same time: even Keenlyside, who is a great singer, is sometimes at pains.

I cannot like the scene, though: that blueish sun isn't enough, it all looks empty and forced.

[BillBC]

I love this opera, but i think I like Jordi Savall's version better, both for the orchesttra and the staging.

[federicoxxl]

Finalmente!!! Belle voci in un opera di Monteverdi, bella linea di canto, bel vibrato. Al fin si ascolta bene questa musica

[dacor31]

I nearly forget the modern ballet when I'm listening to the beautiful voices. As far as I know this way of singing I think they perform it as it should be.

Dacor31

[Sochilinda]

OMG!!! The first shepherd's voice is out of this world. So beautiful and sounds so natural and effortless. Someone can tell me who is HE? thank you.

[rexeterna]

is that yann beuron in the group at 4:40?

[steigleder]

Excelent music, excelent orchestration... but I don't like the "orfeo-disco-breakdancing"

[fcouperin]

very good, as long as I keep my eyes closed.

[totorodono]

a gem

again René Jacobs outdid himself bringing us this beautiful interpretation.

thanks for posting

[leleuric]

Belíssima montagem! Admirável o despojamento coreográfico que parece desenhar a linha musical de L'Orfeo!

[revoltinglibrarian]

I will tell you - I had a lousy day at work today. And then I saw this. God - I'm glad to be alive.

[nuovocentauro]

Yes, yes, yes! I have never read a better expression of what the music of il divino does to me! Or what the spirit of the epoche which's epitome he was, means to me: good or bad, pain or joy, happiness or hurt: I am glad to be alive!

[amoxtlacatl]

NOT ENOUGH STARS TO RATE THIS.

Not a jewel - A TREASURE.

[donstefano77]

I love this! A very original approach!

[asiairish]

I also think the singing is very good. I have no problem with contemporary stagings as long as they maintain the spirit of the original.

But the problem with the dances is that they looked too busy and distracting to be pastoral. What were those shufflings about in the early part--some kind of physical representations of harmonic dissonance, or sheer poor performance?

[fairyboy3]

Y tambien dile que baila muy bien, que es el mejor orfeo que visto en mi vida! que nme llamo julian eduardo y que soy venzolano!! gracias sochilindisima ¿tu tambien eres cantante no?

[fairyboy3]

Puedes decirle que soy su fan? sochlinda

[Sochilinda]

seguro que si. yo le digo.

[Polluxgeminae]

.

Wow! It's a good contemporary version. I like it!

[dystopikk]

For all the purists around, you need to understand that this is what makes a the universality of a masterpiece, it's ability to speak for people in different times and cultures. I think it is ridiculous to just recreate again and again the 16-th century staging. I's like seeing stuffed animals in recreated environment in museums of natural history. Monteverdi wrote a piece of music on an ancient narrative but he used the artistic means of his time, not of ancient Greeks.

[nuovocentauro]

I like this staging a lot. Despite my fondness for Monteverdi I never came to like L'Orfeo, because it seemed to me that it wouldn't work as musical *theatre*. Here however L'Orfeo becomes very convincing as musical *dance* theatre. As for the choreography: for me, taking an opera seriously as a great piece of art means to take it serious as a contemporary piece of art. L'Orfeo was an avantgarde opera; preserving that spirit means for me: the staging has to be modern, not some sort of renfest.

[NorbertZF]

For just ONCE I'd like to see a Baroque opera with its contemporary staging and choreography. for those who feel that I'm being "too exacting or stiff" then how about doing a baroque opera with Fred Astaire tap dancing?

It's just as silly as if you'd do a broadway musical with baroque instruments. Where's the authenticity????

[LordMagros]

I Love this Opera, Jacobs is a great director, the music and the singers are very good, but I dont like the choreography, thanks!!

[GiladLisa]

Looks like they're all doing The Robot. Ridiculous...

Too bad, because the singing's pretty good overall.

Oh, well. Someone always has to push the envelope

[fairyboy3]

El Ballet mas antiguo se llama "le ballet comique de la reine" 1581 Y Orfeo es de los primeros años del 1600. Osea que ballet y opera si van de la mano...!

[luisortmul]

the most horrible thing is that the baritone makes some mistakes at the end (difficult to hear for a non italian speaker) but horrid otherwise... and i am sure the bloody choreography is to blame!!!

geez, we are all bored and crazy

[luisortmul]

this choreography i am sure seems like a great idea on the paper, but it's bloody ridiculous!!!

[fairyboy3]

Como se llama el cantante que hace orfeo? what is the name of the singer who play as orfeo? supe-rcute! Guapisimo! que bellos pies

[Sochilinda]

Se llama Simon Keenlyside. Baritono inglés. Hace uno dias terminó la primera temporada de Eugen Oneguin de Tchaikovsky aqui en Viena.

[Sochilinda]

Y si, en efecto canta bello y es guapisimo. En persona es hermoso y es una bella persona tambien.

[vanhalen8200]

Bello! Monteverdi is one of the best!

[fairyboy3]

Bendito sea rene jacobs!

[Jechtmeister]

trisha please... for the music sake (screaming??), don't choreograph monteverdi :S:S or other non-modern composer :S

nice bass, don't like the tenor, i prefer the version Harnoncourt/Ponnele with Francisco Araiza.

[cousinjk]

The singing is excellent; likewise the minimalist costumes and set. The incessant vaudevilleish stage "business" (or was that "choreography?") could have done with a healthy dose of minimalism itself.

[naorakenzo]

I play baroque violin.

I really love the first dance in this video! Violin, recoder, zink.. everything is very beautiful! Thank you for uploading.