Music concert

Orpheus

Telemann at his most sensitive

Georg Philipp Telemann
Orpheus
René Jacobs
Conductor
Kateryna Kasper
Orasia
David Fischer
Eurimedes
Mirella Hagen
Eurydice
Christian Immler
Pluto
Benno Schachtner
Ascalax
Kresimir Strazanac
Orpheus
Salome Haller
Ismene + Priesterin
Gunta Smirnova
Cephisa
Evgeny Sviridov
Concertmaster
Andreas Küppers
Choirmaster B'Rock Vocal Consort
B'Rock Vocal Consort

It feels a bit like coming home: René Jacobs conducting B’Rock, in a grand Baroque vocal repertoire piece no less. The soloists, a group of the best baroque opera singers of the moment, have already worked together extensively with René. The ease with which conductor, orchestra and singers find each other can be seen in the pleasure of their playing: natural and with flair. This time they encounter one another in the poignant myth of Orpheus, who is unable to save his beloved Eurydice from the underworld.

In Telemann’s hands, the tragedy could just as well bear the title “Orpheus, Eurydice and Orasia”. After all, in his reading, the jealous Orasia suddenly appears on stage. The Queen of Thrace cannot stomach the fact that Orpheus chooses Eurydice, and goes into a ruthless rage. What follows is a dramatic game full of cunning, intrigue and murder, with Orasia claiming a prominent role. Telemann introduces two more characters in the form of Orpheus’ friend Eurimedes and the nymph Cephisa. A masterstroke that allows him to make the story not only more dynamic but also more human. All the fundamental emotions pass in review; you hear Telemann at his most sensitive.

And what’s more: Orpheus is in German, but you would not be mistaken for suddenly thinking that you also hear French or Italian. Indeed, Telemann borrowed a number of passages from operas by Lully and Handel. Or how, in another world, not Beethoven’s Ninth, but perhaps Telemann’s Orpheus would musically express the European idea of unity…

This production was realized with the support of the Tax Shelter measure of the Belgian Federal Government through Flanders Tax Shelter

Casa Kafka Pictures Tax Shelter empowered by Belfius

In the 21/22 season, B'Rock's artistic family member Cecile Broekaert will enter into an artistic dialogue with our productions, and translates our programmes into her own visual language, based on associations and triggers she encounters in our musical plans. This is the artwork that she made for Orpheus.
Past shows
October 30, 2021 Saturday 18:00
Barcelona, ES Gran Teatre del Liceu
October 28, 2021 Thursday 20:00
Tourcoing, FR Théâtre Municipal Raymond Devos
October 25, 2021 Monday 20:00
Köln, DE Kölner Philharmonie
October 23, 2021 Saturday 13:00
Amsterdam, NL Concertgebouw
October 21, 2021 Thursday 20:00
Antwerp, BE De Singel