Orfeo ed Euridice - A UCO Opera - 3/2/24

The University of Central Oklahoma College of Fine Arts and Design and the School of Music present Orfeo ed Euridice Music by Christoph Willibald Gluck Libretto by Raniero de’ Calzabigi March 1-3, 2024 Mitchell Hall Theatre Director – Rob Glaubitz Music Director – Douglas Newell Assistant Music Director – Megan Clewell Choreographers – Alexander Olivieri and Tina Kambour Scenic Designer – Scott Roberts Costume Designer – Becky McGuigan Lighting Designer – Carson Decker Sound Designer – Adam Davila Projection Designer – Gillian Andersen Stage Manager – Brayden Pogson PROGRAM NOTES ACT I – a forest grotto ACT II, SCENE 1 – the Gates to the Underworld ACT II, SCENE 2 – the Elysium Fields INTERMISSION ACT III, SCENE 1 – the pathway between the Underworld and the surface world ACT III, SCENE 2 – a forest grotto CAST (3/1 and 3/3) Orfeo: Mackenzie Cook Euridice: Lindy Wilson Amore: Cheyenne Holland (3/2) Orfeo: Alexandria Blue Euridice: Tae Bradshaw Amore: Noah Cochran Ensemble Jarrett Cox Bear Harlow Sarah Hunsucker Hanna Mobley Hubbard Faith Morrissey Kendra Moon Trever Spruill Payton Stephens Christian Usey Luis Vasquez Kylie Weldon Qing Yang Off-stage Chorus Jake Eads Zhikun Han Ayden Hartel Cady Luttrell Sofie Moxley Victoria Mosburg Yutong Nie Avery Wooden Covers Orfeo Study – Kendra Moon Euridice Study – Sarah Hunsucker Amore Study – Luis Vasquez Dancers Haley Fort Lillian Kobzdej Ashley Manners Kaito Ono Justina Pagán Abigal Paulson Ireland Slover Chloe Taylor Amiyah Underwood Kira Blessit (swing) Alaina Gunn (swing) ORCHESTRA Doug Newell, conductor Megan Clewell, assistant music director and chorusmaster Violin I Elaine Bastos Anne Guevara Madeline Bradley Azusena Gordillo Violin 2 Wei Jia Robbie DeWeese Briana Donovan Viola Caleb Springer Aaron Klein Rowan King Cello Emma Douglas Yasaman Seif Contrabass Kaleb Guillory Flute Kayla Factor Bryanna Louch Oboe/English Horn Scott Erickson Emily King Bassoon Ryan Holcomb Micah Adkins Horn Alex Hamm Cristalynne Burns Trumpet Trevor Chandler Noah Moey Trombone Luke McHenry David Ballard Mason Longey Timpani Trey Brabham Harp Chelsea Bushong Harpsichord Megan Clewell SYNOPSIS ACT I The curtain rises to show a grotto with the tomb of Euridice. The beautiful bride of Orfeo has died from a bite by a venomous snake. Her husband and friends mourn at her tomb. Funeral honors are paid to the dead bride, while the distracted husband cries in despair to his beloved. In answer to his piercing wails, Amor appears. He tells the bereaved husband that Zeus has taken pity on him. He shall have permission to go down into Hades and propitiate Pluto and his minions solely through his music. But, should he rescue Euridice, he must on no account look back at her until he has crossed the river Styx. The whole story turns on this condition, so difficult to fulfill because of the love of Orfeo for his bride. Should he, in answer to her pleading, look back or explain to her why he cannot do so, she will immediately die. But Orfeo, confident in his power of song and in his ability to stand the test imposed by Zeus and bring his beloved back to earth, receives the message with great joy and having implored the aid of the deities, departs for the Nether World. ACT II The entrance of Hades. When Orfeo appears, he is greeted with threats by the furies, who call upon Cerberus, the triple-headed dog monster that guards the entrance to the Nether World, tears into pieces the mortal who so daringly approaches. This is followed by an infuriated “No!” which is hurled at Orfeo by the dwellers at the entrance of Hades, when, having recourse to song, he tells of his love for Euridice and his grief over her death and begs to be allowed to seek her. The sweetness of his music wins the sympathy of the furies. They allow him to enter the Valley of the Blest, a beautiful spot where the good spirits in Hades find rest, a state that is uniquely expressed in their slow dance with its famous flute solo. A Happy Spirit and her companions sing of their bliss in the Elysian Fields. Orfeo comes seeking Euridice and his peaceful aria is answered by a chorus of Happy Shades, who bring to him the lovely Euridice. Orfeo, beside himself with joy but remembering the warning of Amor, takes his bride by the hand and, with averted gaze, leads her out from the valley. 15 MINUTE INTERMISSION ACT III Euridice cannot understand Orfeo’s actions. He seeks to console her injured feelings, but his efforts are in vain; nor can he offer her any explanation, for he has also been forbidden to make known to her the reason for his apparent indifference. She cannot comprehend why he does not even cast a glance upon her and protests in a passionate aria that without his love she prefers to die. Orfeo, no longer able to resist the appeal of his beloved bride, forgets the warning of Amor and clasps her passionately in his arms. Immediately she dies. It is then that Orfeo sings the lament “Che farò senza Euridice”, that air in the score that has truly become immortal. In fact, it is so beautiful that Amor, affected by the grief of Orfeo, appears to him, touches Euridice and restores her to life and to her husband’s arms.