Gluck: Orfeo & Euridice

1. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30: Sinfonia
2. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 1, "Ah se intorno a quest' urna funesta" (Coro, Orfeo)
3. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 1, "Basta, basta o compagni" (Orfeo)
4. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 1, Ballo - Tempo di Minuè
5. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 1, "Ah se intorno a quest' urna funesta" (Coro)
6. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 1, "Chiamo il mio ben così" (Orfeo)
7. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 1, "Numi, barbari, Numi!" (Orfeo)
8. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 1, "T'assiste Amore!" (Amore, Orfeo)
9. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 1, "Gli sguardi trattieni" (Amore)
10. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 1, "Che Disse? Che ascoltai?" (Orfeo)
11. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, Ballo di furie e Spettri - "Chi mai dell'Erebo" - "Mille pene" (Coro, Orfeo)
12. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, Ballo d'eroi ed eroine negli Elisi
13. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, "Che puro ciel!" (Orfeo, Coro)
14. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, "Vieni a' regni del riposo" (Coro)
15. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, Ballo
16. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, "Anime avventurose" - "Torna o bella" (Orfeo, Coro)
17. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, "Vieni, segui i miei passi" (Orfeo, Euridice)
18. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, “Vieni appaga il tuo consorte" (Orfeo, Euridice)
19. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, "Qual vita e questa mai" (Euridice)
20. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, "Che fiero momento" (Euridice)
21. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 2, "Ecco un nuovo tormento" (Orfeo, Euridice)
22. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 3, "Che farò senza Euridice" (Orfeo)
23. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 3, "Ah finisca e per sempre" (Orfeo)
24. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 3, "No questa volta" (Orfeo, Amore, Euridice)
25. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 3, Sinfonia
26. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 3, Ballo: I. Grazioso
27. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 3, Ballo: II. Allegro
28. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 3, Ballo: III. Andante
29. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 3, Ballo: IV. Allegro
30. Orfeo & Euridice, Wq. 30, Act 3, "Trionfi Amore!" (Orfeo, Amore, Euridice, Coro)

Orfeo in Gluck’s opera Orfeo & Euridice has become a signature role for Jakub Józef Orliński, who has performed it on stages in San Francisco, Paris and his native Warsaw. Opera magazine has written that Orliński was “cast to perfection” as Orfeo in San Francisco, while its writer in Warsaw observed that even the character’s famous lament, ‘Che faró senza Euridice’ became “a source of joy” for the audience.

Now Orliński embodies the mythical Greek bard in a recording that represents the realisation of a dream for him. Made in Warsaw, it is conducted by the dynamic Stefan Plewniak, and the instrumentalists and chorus are drawn from his ensemble Il Giardino d’Amore. The roles of Orfeo’s wife Euridice and the god Amore are taken by two further rising stars of the opera and concert stage: the sopranos Elsa Dreisig and Fatma Said.

Orliński explains just why this recording represents a personal mission for him: he has acted as its producer, casting director, and joint artistic director with Stefan Plewniak.

“One of my great dreams as a student was to sing the role of Orfeo. Why? Mostly because in middle school I was really grabbed by the myth itself ... I remember that when I read it for the first time my  imagination went crazy … In front of my eyes I saw images like paintings by Hieronymus Bosch.

“I knew that someday I would try to make my dream come true. I’ve been lucky enough to perform Orfeo & Euridice in different settings … Working on those different versions I achieved my very own interpretation. I knew that I would love to create my own personal version of the piece, to record my dream role, expressing myself in the way I wanted. It’s not that easy to take on such a famous piece of music, but I had a clear vision of what I wanted to do with it and how. I have already made a number of albums, but this is the first time I have undertaken several functions in making a recording.

“The most important thing for me as a musician is to have great collaborators. I was very happy to work with my dear friend Stefan Plewniak, who is conductor and co-artistic director of the whole recording. I have known him, his orchestra and the chorus for years … I trust Stefan musically and I was sure that our ideas on interpretation were going to complement one another to create something really special.

“I am extremely happy that we have my friends Elsa Dreisig as Euridice and Fatma Said as Amore. These two singers are incredibly talented and their voices are just pure magic. They both brought so much to this project. I love being able to sense emotion through a voice in a way that means I can almost touch it. The whole opera was recorded by yet another friend I adore working with – Mateusz Banasiuk, my brilliant sound engineer.

“I couldn’t imagine a better team. Everyone was so willing to make the most of every single take during our long recording sessions. I am really grateful that I can work with people with so much passion.

“And now I invite you to follow Orfeo on his journey and listen to what the power of love can do.”