These lists show the audio and visual recordings of the opera L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi. The opera was first performed in Mantua in 1607, at the court of Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga, and is one of the earliest of all operas. The first recording of L'Orfeo was issued in 1939, a freely adapted version of Monteverdi's music edited by Giacomo Benvenuti,Fortune, "The rediscovery of Orfeo" p. 93 given by the orchestra of La Scala Milan conducted by Ferrucio Calusio. In 1949 the Berlin Radio Orchestra under Helmut Koch recorded the complete opera, on long-playing records (LPs). The advent of LP recordings was, as Harold Schonberg later wrote, an important factor in the postwar revival of interest in Renaissance and Baroque music,Fortune, "The rediscovery of Orfeo" p. 109 and from the mid-1950s recordings of L'Orfeo have been issued on many labels. Koch's landmark version was reissued in 1962, when it was compared unfavourably with others that had by then been issued. The 1969 recording by Nicholas Harnoncourt and the Vienna Concentus Musicus, using Harnoncourt's edition based on period instruments, was praised for "making Monteverdi's music sound something like the way he imagined". In 1981 Siegfried Heinrich, with the Early Music Studio of the Hesse Chamber Orchestra, recorded a version which re-created the original Striggio libretto ending, adding music from Monteverdi's 1616 ballet Tirsi e Clori for the Bacchante scenes. Among more recent recordings, that of Emmanuelle Haïm has been praised for its dramatic effect. The 21st century has seen the issue of an increasing number of recordings on DVD and Blu-ray.
Audio Year of recordingCastOrfeo; Euridice; La musica; Messenger; ProserpinaOpera house/OrchestraConductorLabel and year of issueNotesRefs1939Enrico de FranceschiGinevra Vivante (Euridice and La musica) Elena Nicolai Vittoria Palombini Orchestra of La Scala MilanFerruccio Calusio 78 rpm: La Voce del Padrone DB 5370-5381CD (2004): Walhall Eternity Series WLCD 0060 (2 CDs)First complete recording (Milan, December 1939)Whenham et al, pp. 203–051949Max MeiliElfriede TrötschelEva FleischerGerda Lammers (Messenger and Proserpina)Orchester des Berliner Rundfunks Helmut KochLP Eterna 821 036 {3 discs}CD (2001) Berlin Classics 0094342BC (2 CDS)Performed in German, first LP version1954Gino SinimberghiUta GrafPatricia Brinton (La musica)Wiener Singakedemie and Vienna Symphony OrchestraPaul HindemithCD (2010): Andromeda, ANDRCD9069 (2 CDs), alsoCD (2010) Music & Arts - MA1237 (2 CDs)Recorded at the Konzerthaus, Vienna on 3 June 1954, an attempt to reconstruct the first performance of the opera in 1607. Not issued as a recording until 20101955Helmut KrebsHanni Mack-Cosack Margot Guilleaume (La musica and Proserpina)Jeanne DeroubaixOrchester der Sommerlichen Musiktage Hitzacker, HamburgAugust Wenzinger LP: Deutsche Grammophon Archive APM 4057-4058 {2 discs}1960Gérard SouzayJudith RaskinDoris YarickRegina Sarfaty Evelyn SachsNew York City OperaLeopold Stokowski CD (2006): Mitridate Ponto PO 1046 (2 CDs)Recording of a live performance by the New York City Opera, 29 September 1960, recording not issued until 20061968Eric TappyMagali SchwartzWally StaempfliLaura SartiJuliette BiseEnsemble Vocal et Instrumental de LausanneMichel CorbozLP: Erato STU 70440-42 (3 discs)CD (1995): Erato 4509-98531-21969Lajos KozmaRotraud Hansmann (Euridice and La musica)Cathy Berberian Eiko KatanosakaConcentus Musicus WienNikolaus HarnoncourtLP: Telefunken SKH 21/1-3 (3 discs)CD (1985): Teldec ZA 8 35020 {2CDS} Later CD release (2008): Teldec 2292 42494-2 (2CDS)1973Nigel RogersEmilia Petrescu (Euridice and La musica)Anna Reynolds (Messenger and Proserpina)Instralmentalsolisten Camerata Accademica HamburgJürgen JürgensLP: Deutsche Grammophon Archiv Produktion 2723 018 (3 discs)CD (1996) Deutsche Grammophon Archiv 447 703-2 (2 CDs)1978Philippe HuttenlocherDietlinde TurbanTrudeliese SchmidtGlenys Linos (Messenger and Proserpina)Monteverdi Ensemble der Zürcher OperNikolaus HarnoncourtCD (1989): Teldec 8 35807 (part of Zürich Monteverdi Cycle, 6 CDS) 1980Joachim SeippMelinda LiebermannRosemarie Bühler Heide Blanca-RoeserRochelle TravisBad Hersfeld Festival 1980Siegfried HeinrichLP (1982): Jubilate JU 85810-2 (3 discs)1983Nigel RogersPatrizia KwellaEmma KirkbyGuillemette LaurensJennifer SmithLondon Baroque Ensemble, London Cornett and Sackbut EnsembleCharles MedlamLP (1985): EMI EX 2701313 {3 discs}CD (1986) EMI 7 47142-8 {2 CDs} Later CD issues in 1994 (EMI) and 2005 (Virgin)1985Gino QuilicoAudrey MichaelColette Alliot-LugazCarolyn WatkinsonDanièle BorstOpéra National de LyonMichel CorbozLP (1985): Erato 75212 {2 discs}CD (1985) Erato 88133 {2 CDs} Recorded from film soundtrack1986Anthony Rolfe-JohnsonJulianne BairdLynne DawsonAnne Sofie von OtterDiana MontagueEnglish Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi ChoirJohn Eliot GardinerLP (1987): Deutsche Grammophon Archiv Produktion 419 250-1 (2 discs)CD 919870 DG Archiv Produktion 419 250-2 {2 CDs} 1991John Mark AinsleyJulia GoodingCatherine Bott (La musica, Messenger, Proserpina)New London ConsortPhilip PickettCD (1993): Decca L'Oiseau Lyre 433 545-2 {2 CDs} 1993Jeffrey ThomasDana Hanchard (Euridice and La musica)Jennifer LaneJessica TanzilloArt of the Early KeyboardGwendolyn TothCD (1996): Lyrichord LEMS 9002 {2 CDs} 1995Laurence DaleEfrat Ben-Nun (Euridice and La musica)Jennifer Larmore Bernarda FinkConcerto VocaleRené JacobsCD (1995): Harmonia Mundi 901 553.54 (2 CDs)1996Alessandro CarmignaniMarinella Pannicchi (Euridice and La musica)Rosita Frisani (Messenger and Proserpina)Capella Musicale di San Petronio di BolognaSergio VartoloCD (1998): Naxos 8.554094-95 {2 CDs} 1996Victor TorresAdriana FernándezMaría Cristina KiehrGloria BanditelliRoberta InvernizziEnsemble ElymaGabriel GarridoCD (1996): K617 K617066 {2 CDs} Reissued by K617 in 20072000Gareth MorellSandra Simon (Euridice and La musica)Meredith Hall (Messenger and Proserpina)Apollo's FireJeannette SorrellCD (2001): Eclectra ECCD 2052 {2 CDs} Sung in English2003Ian BostridgePatrizia CiofiNatalie DessayAlice CooteVéronique GensLe Concert d'AstréeEmmanuelle HaïmCD (2004): Virgin Classics 5 45642-2 {2 CDs} Ringer, p. 3112004Kobie van RensburgCyrille GerstenhaberEstelle Kaïque (Messenger)Delphine Gillot (Proserpina)La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du RoyJean-Claude MalgoireCD (2005): Dynamic DYNCDS 477 {2 CDs} Recording of a live performance at Tourcoing in October 2004. The role of La musica was shared between three singers.2006William MatteuzziSylva Pozzer (Euridice and La musica)Sara Mingardo (Messenger and Proserpina)Ensemble Instrumental Sergio VartoloCD (2006) Brilliant Classics 93103 {2 CDs} 2006Mirko GuadagniniEmanuela Galli (Euridice and La musica)Marina De LisoChristina CalzolariLa VenexianaClaudio CavinaCD (2007): Glossa GLO 920913 {2 CDs} Recorded in the Iglesia di San Carlo, Modena, February 20062006Frank KelleyRoberta AndersonLaurie Monahan (La musica and Messenger)Sharon BakerAston MagnaDaniel StepnerCD (2008): Centaur Records 2931/2 {2 CDs} 2007Furio ZanasiAnna Simboli (Eurydice and Prosperina)Monica PiccininiSara MingardoConcerto ItalianoRinaldo Alessandrini CD (2007): Naïve OP 30439 {2 CDs} 2013Charles DanielsFaye NewtonDavid HurleyEmily Van Evera (Messenger and Proserpina) Taverner Consort and Players, Andrew Parrott CD (2013): Avie AV2278 {2 CDs} 2020Emiliano Gonzalez Toro,Emőke Baráth,Emőke Baráth,Natalie Pérez,Mathilde EtienneEnsemble Vocal de Poche;I Gemelli,Emiliano Gonzalez Toro CD (2020): Naïve V 7176 {2 CDs}Recorded 2–10 January, Corum, MontpellierBrian Robins, "Opera on CD: Orfeo, Monteverdi, Disc of the Month", Opera, December 2020, pp. 1484–1485.Iain Fenlon, Review - Monteverdi - Orfeo - Toro, Gramophone, December 2020, pp. 94–95.2021Leonardo De Lisi, Erica Alberini, Martha Rook, Michela Mazzanti, Martha RookFederico BardazziEnsemble San FeliceCD (2021) Bongiovanni (2 CDs)
Video
Year of recordingCastOrfeo; Euridice; La musica; Messenger; ProserpinaOpera house/OrchestraConductorLabel and year of issueNotesRefs1978Philippe HuttenlocherDietlinde TurbanTrudeliese SchmidtGlenys Linos (Messenger and Proserpina)Monteverdi Ensemble der Zürcher OperNikolaus HarnoncourtDVD (2007): Deutsche Grammophon 073 4163 Originally performed as a television film. Also issued on DVD as part of a 3-opera set, DG Unitel 073 4278 (5 DVDs)1997John Mark AinsleyJuanita LascarroDavid CordierBrigitte BalleysBernarda FinkConcerto Palatino, TragicomediaStephen StubbsDVD (2005): Opus Arte OA 0928 (Europe); Opus Arte OA 0929 (USA)Recording of a performance by De Nederlandse Opera Amsterdam, September 1997 (stage direction: Pierre Audi)1998Simon KeenlysideJuanita Lascarro (Euridice and La musica)Graciela OddoneMartina DikeConcerto Vocale, Collegium Vocale GentRené JacobsDVD (2006) Harmonia Mundi France HMD 9909003/04 Recording of a performance at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, 21 May 1998.2002Furio ZanasiArianna SavallMontserrat FiguerasSara MingardoAdriana FernándezLe Concert des NationsJordi SavallDVD (2002): BBC/Opus Arte OA 0842D Recording of a performance in the Gran Teatre del Liceu, 31 January 20022004Kobie van RensburgCyrille GerstenhaberEstelle Kaïque (Messenger)Delphine Gillot (Proserpina)La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du RoyJean-Claude MalgoireDVD (2005): Dynamic 33477 Recording of a live performance at Tourcoing in October 2004. The role of La musica was shared between three singers.2008Dietrich HenschelMaria Grazia Schiavo (Euridice, La musica and Prosperina)Sonia PrinaLes Arts Florissants - Les Sacqueboutiers William Christie DVD (2009): Dynamic 33598 Live performance, Teatro Real, Madrid, May 20082009Georg NiglRoberta Invernizzi (Euridice and La musica)Sara MingardoRaffaella MilanesiTeatro alla Scala,Rinaldo Alessandrini Blu-ray (2011): Opus Arte Live performance, Milan, 21, 23 September 2009. Stage director: Robert WilsonLa Scala, 2009, .2017Cyril AuvityHannah Morrison (Euridice and La musica)Lea DesandreMiriam AllanLes Arts Florissants,Paul Agnew Blu-ray (2017): Harmonia Mundi Live performance, Théâtre de Caen, 28 February 2017. Stage director: Paul AgnewCaen, 2017, . David Vickers, Review of performance at Caen, 2017, Gramophone, December 2017, pp. 7 (Editor's Choice), 112–113 (review).
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