Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (Vienna Version 1762) – 2CD Set

Performed by Jochen Kowalski, Dagmar Schellenberger-Ernst, Rundfunkchor Berlin & Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Conducted by Hartmut Haenchen

Product Information

• UPC: 4006408600084
• Product Type: Classical Opera 2CD Set
• Genre: Baroque / Classical Opera
• Language: Italian

• Artists:

  Ensembles: Rundfunkchor Berlin (Chorus Master: Sigurd Brauns), Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (Raphael Alpermann, Harpsichord)
  • Jochen Kowalski (Orfeo)
  • Dagmar Schellenberger-Ernst (Euridice)
  • Christian Fliegner (Amore / Tölzer Sängerknabe)
• Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen
• Label: Capriccio
• Recording Year: 1989
• Format: 2 Audio CDs
• Catalog Number: 60 008-2
• Production: Digital recording (DDD)
• Design: A. Backhausen, Köln
• Made in: Germany

Overview

This distinguished 2CD set offers a historically informed performance of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice in its original Vienna version of 1762, enhanced with ballet music from the Paris revision of 1774. The opera, a hallmark of the reform movement in 18th-century opera, is delivered with clarity and expressive depth by an outstanding cast.

Jochen Kowalski’s rich countertenor portrayal of Orfeo stands at the center of this dramatic and lyrical journey, complemented by Dagmar Schellenberger-Ernst’s evocative Euridice and Christian Fliegner’s charming Amore. The Rundfunkchor Berlin, expertly prepared by Sigurd Brauns, provides vivid choral textures that animate the pastoral, infernal, and Elysian scenes.

The Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, conducted by the renowned Hartmut Haenchen, supports the singers with elegant, period-informed orchestral playing, featuring Raphael Alpermann on harpsichord. This release offers listeners an immersive experience of Gluck’s timeless work, notable for its dramatic simplicity and emotional directness.

Product Features

• Format: 2 CDs, digitally recorded (DDD)
• Language: Italian libretto
• Version: Vienna version 1762 with ballet music from Paris 1774 version
• Soloists: Jochen Kowalski (Orfeo), Dagmar Schellenberger-Ernst (Euridice), Christian Fliegner (Amore)
• Choir: Rundfunkchor Berlin, chorus master Sigurd Brauns
• Orchestra: Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, harpsichord by Raphael Alpermann
• Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen
• Label: Capriccio
• Recording Quality: High fidelity digital recording
• Packaging: Includes detailed credits and artistic design by A. Backhausen

Interesting Facts

• Opera Reform Pioneer: Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice is a landmark in opera history, simplifying the complex Baroque style in favor of dramatic clarity and emotional truth.
• Vienna vs. Paris Versions: This recording features the original 1762 Vienna version combined with ballet music from the later Paris revision, offering a comprehensive insight into the work’s evolution.
• Countertenor Highlight: Jochen Kowalski’s celebrated countertenor voice provides a compelling interpretation of Orfeo, highlighting the character’s passion and humanity.
• Period Ensemble: The Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach is known for its historically informed approach, enriching the authenticity of the performance.
• Choral Richness: The Rundfunkchor Berlin adds depth to the opera’s choral scenes, capturing the pastoral and supernatural atmospheres essential to Gluck’s score.

Publishers

Released by Capriccio, 1989. A product of Delta Music GmbH, Frechen, Germany. All rights reserved.

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• English: #GluckOrfeoEdEuridice #JochenKowalski #DagmarSchellenbergerErnst #HartmutHaenchen #RundfunkchorBerlin #BaroqueOpera #KammerorchesterCPEBach #Capriccio #ClassicalOpera