‘L’anima del Filosofo’ ossia ;Orfeo ed Euridice’ by Haydn and recorded last year in Sydney for Pinchgut Opera will be available – is now available on ITUNES!!! !!! YES! ITUNES!!!!
Orchestra of the Antipodes conducted by Antony Walker, featuring soloists: Elena Xanthoudakis-Euridice and Genio, Andrew Goodwin-Orfeo and Derek Welton as Creonte with the Cantilation choir.
About the Opera and the CD:
Rarely heard Haydn opera now available for all.
Pinchgut Opera new CD release: L’anima del filosofo: Orpheus + Eurydice
Joseph Haydn’s stunning music in L’anima del filosofo – the Orpheus & Eurydice story – was presented for the first time in Australia last December.
Pinchgut makes a practice of producing unfairly neglected operas of great beauty, and with only a couple of recordings available of this beautiful music, this edition promises to be an excellent addition for lovers of opera.
The story of Orpheus has fascinated composers and librettists over the centuries. Haydn’s version is the last opera he ever wrote and he never heard it performed in his lifetime. The cast includes soprano Elena Xanthoudakis, tenor Andrew Goodwin and baritone Derek Welton. Antony Walker conducts Orchestra of the Antipodes on classical instruments with superb choral singing by Cantillation.
Composed in 1791, Haydn’s Orpheus is a jewel of its time; with gorgeous music and dramatic purpose, unfairly forgotten. Its first performance, amazingly, was in 1951 in Florence with a cast including Maria Callas and Boris Christoff, conducted by Erich Kleiber
Renowned Australian conductor and co-artistic director, Antony Walker (fresh from his Metropolitan Opera debut) says, “The Orpheus story has fascinated composers, writers and philosophers for centuries. For me, it’s a bit of a leitmotif and it was wonderful to explore further this amazing work – I’m extremely proud of Pinchgut’s production by the extraordinary musical genius that is Josef Haydn”.
Pinchgut specialises in presenting unfairly neglected operas, mostly from the baroque and early classical periods. Pinchgut LIVE is the company new recording label. This is their first release.
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Pinchgut LIVE first release.
L’anima del filosofo: Orpheus + Eurydice
Music by Joseph Haydn 1732-1809
Libretto by Carlo Francesco Badini
Elena Xanthoudakis Euridice / Genio
Andrew Goodwin Orfeo
Derek Welton Creonte
Craig Everingham Pluto
Cantillation
Orchestra of the Antipodes
Antony Walker conductor
Erin Helyard assistant conductor
Recorded live in City Recital Hall Angel Place on 2, 4, 5 & 7 December 2010.
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For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview (phone/email) with Antony Walker, Elena Xanthoudakis, Andrew Goodwin or Derek Welton please contact Anna Cerneaz.
Telephone 02 9389 8117 / Email anna@pinchgutopera.com.au
For more information: Pinchgut Opera www.pinchgutopera.com.au
“Pinchgut here has taken a footnote of Haydn’s great career – and lovingly turned it into another Christmas delight.” (SMH 4 December 2010)
