Today I was presented with the opportunity to go to the Atlanta Opera to see Orfeo & Euridice. I jumped at the opportunity because I had never previously seen a full scale Opera from the Atlanta Opera. A patron of the Opera wanted to purchase tickets for a Morehouse and Spelman student that was involved in music and the performing arts.
The opportunity to attend the opera happened at such a perfect time. In History of Western we had just learned and viewed parts of the opera L’Orfeo by Monteverdi. I was very familiar with L’Orfeo because I had the opportunity to see the full opera while in Italy and my History of Italian Opera course went into a full analysis of the work. Now having seen both versions of the same story I can full heartedly say that I prefer the version of Monteverdi.
Gluck’s version was very interesting especially in part because of the role of the countertenor. I was first introduced to a countertenor while in Italy. My first introduction to a countertenor was interesting because I was not expecting such a bright, soprano like sound to come from a man. The countertenor in Orfeo & Euridice was great and taught me something new. I was aware of classifications of of voice types but I did not know the same can apply to countertenors. My first exposure to a countertenor sounded similar to that of a soprano however, the countertenor in this production reminded me greatly of a mezzo-soprano.
Overall the production was great but much of my focus was on the countertenor. The way in which he produced sound and then receiving the opportunity to hear his story of how he learned he was a countertenor was quite interesting.
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