L'Orfeo, SV 318 (Claudio Monteverdi)

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Complete opera

• CPDL #17022:  Finale 2006

Editor: Sabine Cassola (submitted 2008-06-15).   Score information: A4, 81 pages, 1.61 MB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Transcribed from edition of 1609.

Excerpts

Toccata – Prologue – Act One

• CPDL #11421: 

Editor: Philip Legge (submitted 2006-04-08).   Score information: A4, 25 pages, 270 kB   Copyright: © 2006 Philip Legge

Edition notes: Score currently includes only: Toccata – Prologue – Act One. Transcribed from the 1615 reprint.

Act Three

• (Posted 2012-09-01)  CPDL #27065: 

Editor: Marcel Gautreau (submitted 2012-08-31).   Score information: Letter, 11 pages, 3.65 MB   Copyright: CC BY NC SA

Edition notes: Editorial additions and alternatives in light grey type; includes end notes. Transcribed from Venice: Ricciardo Amadino, 1615. Second printing from new engraving; originally published 1609.

General Information

Title: L'Orfeo, SV 318
Original title: L'Orfeo, Favola in Musica da Claudio Monteverdi rappresentata in Mantova l'anno 1607. - Orfeo, fable set to music (=opera) by Claudio Monteverdi, presented in Mantua in 1607.
Composer: Claudio Monteverdi

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SSATB
and solos
Solo rôles:

Prologue

La Musica (Music), soprano

Act 1

Orfeo, tenor

Euridice, soprano

Ninfa (A nymph), soprano

Pastori (Shepherds), soprano, alto, 2 tenors, bass

Genre: Secular, Opera

Language: Italian
Instruments: Orchestra: flute, cornetti, clarino, trombe, trombones, strings, chitarroni, double harp, regal, two organs

Published: Ricciardo Amadino, Venice, 1609, and reprinted 1615.

Description: While there were semi-successful operatic experiments in Florence in the 1590s, Monteverdi's Orfeo was the first truly viable opera, first produced to great acclaim in February of 1607 in Mantua and the full score published soon after in Venice by Monteverdi's usual firm Amadino. The libretto was written by Alessandro Striggio (II), son of the Florentine composer Alessandro Striggio.

External websites:

• Complete text of the work

Original text and translations

Act Three

Italian text

Possente Spirto e formidabil nume,
senza cui far passaggio a l'altra riva
alma da corpo sciolta in van presume.

Non viv'io, no, che poi di vita è priva
mia cara sposa, il cor non è più meco,
e senza cor com'esser può ch'io viva?

A lei volt'ho 'l camin per l'aer cieco,
a l'Inferno non già, ch'ovunque stassi
tanta bellezza il paradiso ha seco.

Orfeo son io che d'Euridice i passi
segue per queste tenebrose arene,
ove già mai per uom mortal non vassi.
O de le luci mie luci serene
s'un vostro sguardo può tornarmi in vita,
Ahi, chi nega il conforto a le mie pene ?
Sol tu, nobile dio puoi darmi aita,
nè temer dei, ché sopra un'aurea Cetra
Sol di corde soavi armo le dita
contra cui rigida alma invan s'impetra.