Orpheus

David Randolph plays excerpts from two older operas on the subject of Orpheus, one modern orchestral work written about Orpheus and a parody on the story of Orpheus. He begins material from L'Orfeo written by Claudio Monteverdi in 1607. David goes on to the fifth and final act of Monteverdi's opera with Max Miley singing the part of Orfeo with the vocal ensemble and chamber orchestra of Berlin Radio under the direction of Helmut Koch. The recording was issued by Vox.

In part two of the program he begins in a roundabout way with a portion Stravinsky's Orpheus (for the ballet)(1947) RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the composer. He then proceeds with and excerpt from Christoph Willibald Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice (1762). The performance was recorded by Erna Berger and Margareta Klose with the Chorus and Orchestra of the Berlin Civic Opera under the direction of Otto Rother released by Orionia. Randolph concludes with a selection from Offenbach's comic opera Orpheus and the Underworld. The recording was a Renaissance LP by the Paris Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Rene Leibowitz.

WNYC archives id: 53746