Orpheus

Ballet by John Neumeier

Orpheus – Champion of boundless civilization, poet and singer, unquestioning lover, mediator between this life and the hereafter, son of pagan gods and harbinger symbol of Christ. Perhaps no other figure in ancient mythology combines so contrary but complementary facets as archetype of human desires.
John Neumeier

Music: Igor Stravinsky, Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, Peter Blegvad, Andy Partridge
Choreography, Staging, Costumes and Light Design: John Neumeier
Set: Ferdinand Wögerbauer

2 hours 15 minutes | 1 intermission

PREMIERE:
Hamburg Ballet, Hamburg, December 6, 2009

ORIGINAL CAST:
Orpheus: Otto Bubenícek (for Roberto Bolle)
Apollo: Edvin Revazov
Kalliope: Anna Laudere
Hermes: Yohan Stegli
Eurydice: Hélène Bouchet
Shadows of Hermes: Alexandr Trusch, Konstantin Tselikov

SYNOPSIS

Overture
- Igor Stravinsky: Lento sostenuto from "Orpheus"

First Part

The place of destiny
Orpheus, son of Apollo and Calliope
Apollo's gift: music
The sound of the violin
Apollo's lesson, Calliope's inspiration
- Igor Stravinsky: "Apollon Musagète"

On earth
Street music
Eurydice – first encounter
His concert – success and glory
Eurydice – second, definitive encounter
The accident – Eurydice lost
– Peter Blegvad & Andy Partridge: "Galveston" from "Orpheus the Lowdown"

Grief
powerless – despondent – despairing
– Igor Stravinsky: Apothéose from "Apollon Musagète"

Lost in Galveston
– Peter Blegvad & Andy Partridge: "Galveston" from "Orpheus the Lowdown"

Music regained

The music of Orpheus moves trees and rivers
– Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: passacaglia in G minor from the "Rosary Sonatas"

Hermes and the impossible journey
– Peter Blegvad & Andy Partridge: "Necessary Shadows" from "Orpheus the Lowdown"

Second Part

The realm of shadows
Journey to the underworld
"seperate journeys" –
Orpheus. Eurydice. Hermes
– Igor Stravinsky: "Orpheus"

Orpheus in shadowland
– Peter Blegvad & Andy Partridge: "Noun Verbs" from "Orpheus the Lowdown"

His violin as bond

Orpheus regains Eurydice –
but must not look at her
– Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Lamento from the 6th sonata from the "Rosary Sonatas"

The journey back
Lover's madness forces
his gaze toward Eurydice
– Igor Stravinsky: "Orpheus"

Irrevocable loss
– Peter Blegvad & Andy Partridge: "Eurydice" from "Orpheus the Lowdown"

On earth
The audience abandons the artist
Orpheus alone
– Igor Stravinsky: "Orpheus"

Photo © Holger Badekow