Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld
New Year’s Eve Concert – NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / NDR Vokalensemble / Soloists / Marc Minkowski
A masterpiece of light entertainment
Even if rockets are shooting into the sky outside, the biggest fireworks display on New Year’s Eve doesn’t take place in front of the Elbphilharmonie, but inside. The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and Choir offer a programme of light music to see the old year out and the new one in. After the witty and sparkling performances of »Die Fledermaus« and »My Fair Lady« in the previous years, tonight’s concert features another operetta masterpiece, Offenbach’s »Orphée aux enfers«.
Jacques Offenbach’s satire of the Greek Orpheus legend was premiered in Paris in 1858, and soon took the world’s theatres by storm. No wonder: the story of the unhappy marriage of the singer-songwriter of the ancient world and his beloved Eurydice is not only hilarious – with numbers like the legendary »can-can of hell« it also contains some of the catchiest tunes in music history.
To this day, »Orpheus in the Underworld« remains one of the biggest stage hits of all time. In the Elbphilharmonie, Offenbach’s delightful score can be heard on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with the French conductor Marc Minkowski leading the NDR ensembles and first-class soloists through three exhilarating evenings.
Performers
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
NDR Vokalensemble
Marc Mauillon Orphée
Tamara Bounazou Eurydice
Aude Extrémo Opinion Publique
Éric Huchet Aristée / Pluton
Alexandre Duhamel Jupiter
Adriana Bignagni Lesca Juno
Alix Le Saux Venus
Olivia Doray Diane
Louise Pingeot Minerve
Sahy Ratia Mercure
Manon Lamaison Cupido
Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke John Styx
Christoph Liebold Mars
conductor Marc Minkowski
Romain Gilbert scenic installation and lighting
Programme
Jacques Offenbach
Orphée aux enfers (Orpheus in the Underworld) / opera in two acts
Semi-staged performance in French with German surtitles
Series
Opera in Concert