Performing nineteenth-century editions of Christoph Willibald Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to examine and compare the various nineteenth-century editions of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s opera, Orfeo ed Euridice. Of primary focus are Hector Berlioz’s Orphée, Alfred Dörffel’s Orpheus und Eurydice and Ricordi’s Orfeo ed Euridice. Issues of voice type, language, libretto, instrumentation, and nineteenth-century performance practice are addressed. Finally, recommendations for creating an informed modern production of the opera are given based upon the various issues listed above.