Gluck: Orfeo Ed Euridice – Philippe Jaroussky

   in Opera Now (Jul, 2018)
Amid the many variants of Orfeo ed Euridice there is a reworking by Gluck for Parma in 1774, recorded here for Erato. It has some interesting re-orchestration and transpositions, most noticeably for the great aria ‘Che farò senza Euridice’, both higher and lighter. There are also two new numbers for the performance, including a substitution aria for Euridice, outlining her emotional state, though its vocal flourishes fizzle into recitative. Diego Fasolis conducts with brio balanced with elegance, and the sound is excellent. Philippe Jaroussky is Orfeo, beautiful of tone as ever, but sounding a little dramatically wan. It’s hard to imagine this Orfeo schlepping to Hades and facing the Furies without …