The Orange Mountain Music label has announced the commercial release of the world premiere recording of Philip Glass' Orphée, conducted by Anne Manson with the Portland Opera Company, which will be available for purchase on July 20, 2010. The production features a remarkable cast of soloists including renowned soprano Georgia Jarmen as Eurydice; baritone Philip Cutlip and soprano Lisa Saffer - who both starred in the critically acclaimed Glimmerglass production of the opera in 2007 - reprise their roles as Orphée and La Princesse; and tenor Ryan MacPherson as La Princesse's chauffeur, Heurtebise. Glass' Orphée has been described by The New York Times as a "surprise hit: a rich, complex and challenging experience...vibrantly conducted by Anne Manson", and was praised by The Wall Street Journal as "the best show of the season" with a "top-flight cast" in 2007.
Philip Glass' Orphée (1993) was the first of a trilogy of operas that Glass composed on subjects by
Jean Cocteau, which also comprises La Belle et la Bête (1994) and Les Enfants Terribles (1996). The last of the three to be recorded, this
Michael Riesman-produced recording of Orphée was made from the series of live performances that took place in November 2009 at Portland Opera. This two-disc set includes a deluxe digipack, full libretto in French and English, color production photos and cast and performer biographies.
Based on
Jean Cocteau's fascinating retelling of the Orpheus myth in his 1949 film of the same title, Glass' Orphée is an extended parable on the life of an artist, a poet harassed and misunderstood by peers. His success leads to the ridicule by fellow poets, ending in a creatively crippling isolation. With a renewed apprehension of his own mortality, Orphée regains his emotional strength, enabling him to ignore the trials of ordinary life, freeing him to be a poet. The poets Orphée and Cégeste, Euridice, and a mysterious Princess interact within the worlds of the living and the dead, existing in that mysterious realm that separates the two worlds. Love triumphs and thus returns Orphée and Euridice to mortal life, with no remaining consciousness of their unusual time spent between "the worlds". The Princess has violated the laws of life and death one time too many and is banished into oblivion.
Philip Glass, following his attendance at an Orphée performance in Portland, expressed his pleasure about the recording. "This recording," he said, "happily completes the Cocteau Trilogy and will admirably reflect my hopes and intentions for this piece. The Portland Opera production features a brilliant cast and an inspired conductor."
Anne Manson said, "It was a wonderful experience working on Orphée with such a gifted cast and director. I hope that the release of this recording will help to promote this wonderful and effective piece of music theater of
Philip Glass. May it have many more performances!"
Portland Opera General Director Christopher Mattaliano noted the historic aspect of this recording as well as its significance in the world of contemporary classical music. "It is an honor," he said, "to have Portland Opera's production of Orphée complete the recording collection of
Philip Glass' entire Cocteau Trilogy. Mounting the west coast premiere of Orphée was a project that energized the company and our community. This recording puts the exclamation point on that excitement, especially since it will make our work available to a world-wide audience. It is also a source of pride for our staff, board, orchestra, and guest artists to be involved in such a worthwhile project."
RECORDING DETAILS
Philip Glass - Orphée (complete opera recording)
Orange Mountain Music label
OMM0068 - UPC 801837006827
Portland Opera Company, Keller Auditorium, Portland, OR
November 6 - 14, 2009
Georgia Jarmen, soprano Eurydice
Lisa Saffer, soprano La Princesse
Ryan MacPherson, tenor Heurtebise
Philip Cutlip, baritone Orphée
Philip Glass, composer
Anne Manson, conductor
Sam Helfrich, director
