20:00, Fri 13th – Sat 14th March 2026 at Sidney Sussex College Chapel
Lent Week 7
Sometimes referred to as a favola in musica, Claudio Monteverdi’s 1607 opera L’Orfeo depicts the Greek legend of Orpheus and his wife, Euridice. The libretto is by Alexander Striggio, who drew on the depictions of the legend in individual books of Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Virgil’s Georgics.
After an introduction from the Spirit of Music, the story begins on Orfeo and Euridice’s wedding day. With invocations and dances, the pair, along with the chorus behind them, sing of love and joy. Yet, Orfeo’s musings on the beauty of nature are broken, as he is brought the news that Euridice has died, having received a snakebite while gathering flowers. The grieving Orfeo declares he will descend into the Underworld to reclaim his bride and bring her back to the living world.