CCMONSTAGE OPERA D’ARTE UNDERGRADUATE OPERA
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Adapted by Omari Tau
Libretto by Hector Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy
Adapted by Buck Ross
Feb. 4-6, 2022, Cohen Family Studio Theater
Opera d'Arte Sponsor
Rafael and Kimberly de Acha
*CCM Student
Orpheus in the Underworld will last 95 minutes with a 15-minute intermission between Act 2 and Act 3.
By Amy Johnson
Sometimes we all need a good French farce. Its mélange of mistaken identities, caricature, disguises, magical elements, breaking of fourth walls and healthy doses of indecency give us permission to take nothing seriously, other than the laughs.
Special thanks to the CCM Voice faculty, Donna Loewy, Kathleen Kelly, Robert Doak and Vernon Hartman.
In the prologue, Public Opinion sets the tone in the manner of a Greek Chorus, assuring us that the audience is safe from the ensuing mayhem. We then meet the misbehaving Eurydice, followed by her husband, Orpheus. It quickly becomes clear that they both have extramarital interests and would gladly divorce if not for tarnishing their reputations. As an alternative, Orpheus plans to dispose of Eurydice's lover - Aristaeus, who, in fact, is Pluto in disguise. When Eurydice meets her demise instead of Aristaeus, his identity is revealed and she is willingly swept away to the underworld.
Orpheus is elated when he learns the news but is immediately reprimanded by Public Opinion and charged with descending to the underworld to retrieve his wife (whether he wants her or not!).
While some gods are sleeping, others who have been frolicking during the night attempt to sneak back into bed before being caught. Diana's entrance is quick and dramatic, and she laments the loss of her love, Acteon. Jupiter admits to interfering with the affair by turning him into a stag. This leads to a family feud regarding Eurydice's disappearance. Mercury arrives in time to momentarily lower the tension, if not the temperature. However, he brings with him Pluto, who Jupiter believes is responsible for Eurydice's disappearance. Their confrontation is interrupted by civil unrest which leads to a condemnation of Jupiter's past indiscretions. The crisis mounts with the untimely arrival of Public Opinion and Orpheus. Orpheus identifies Pluto as the one who took his wife - exonerating Jupiter. Jupiter declares that Pluto must return Eurydice to Orpheus. To ensure this happens, Jupiter will go to Hell himself to retrieve her. The gods are fascinated and decided to make a family outing of it.
Eurydice complains of being abandoned in a tacky suite with no internet. Truly Hell. John Styx professes his admiration and sings of his rule as King of Boeotia. As he whisks her away they are interrupted by the approach of Pluto and Jupiter. John Styx quickly secures Eurydice. Upon their entrance, Pluto continues to claim his innocence and invites Jupiter to a party. Jupiter doubles back, determined to find Eurydice and with the help of Cupid and The Love Police, slithers his way through the keyhole of her room and seduces her. They plan a rendezvous at the party and thereafter an escape.
A party set in one's worst nightmare - superficial luxury and never-ending commercialized holidays. As the guests praise debauchery, a mysterious bacchante arrives and sings a hymn to Bacchus. Courtly dances follow, but they quickly ignite into a can-can orchestrated by the otherworldly Lady Phaedra. Pluto prevents the escape of Jupiter and Eurydice but is exposed as her kidnapper. Jupiter challenges Orpheus to lead Eurydice out of the underworld without looking back at her lest he lose her. The gods place bets. Orpheus fails. Public Opinion is scandalized. Pluto is hopeful that he will retain Eurydice, but Jupiter has other plans. He will put her on The Voice.
*Featured in the performance on Sat., Feb. 5
Brett Scott, conductor
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September 30, 2024
UC’s College-Conservatory of Music will welcome a variety of new faculty and staff members to its roster of distinguished performing and media arts experts, researchers and educators this fall. In addition, the college is also welcoming several current faculty members into new leadership roles this year.
September 20, 2024
Considered by many to be the most prestigious international opera competition, Operalia has helped launch the careers of some of the genre’s brightest stars. Each year, a select number of opera’s most promising young singers are invited from a pool of hundreds of applicants to participate. This year, three CCM alumni were among those selected to compete in Mumbai, India.
Event: September 21, 2024 7:30 PM
UC College-Conservatory of Music's Philharmonia and combined choirs unite with alumni guest artists Amanda Woodbury and Kayleigh Decker to perform an epic season-opening concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. Presented in CCM's Corbett Auditorium, tickets for the concert are on sale now through the Box Office.
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