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Article: 'ORFEO' TOO HARSH TO CHARM IN L.A.(U)(Review)
- Article from:
- Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
- Article date:
- December 3, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Daily News. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: David Mermelstein Correspondent
CHRISTOPH Willibald Gluck knew a good wellspring. His ``Orfeo ed Euridice'' written in 1762 sprang from the same source, the Greek legend, that had produced the first extant opera, Jacopo Peri's ``Euridice,'' and the first great one, Monteverdi's ``Orfeo,'' about 150 years earlier. But though revolutionary at its premiere, Gluck's ``Orfeo'' has become a problematic work in our day. It is difficult to stage effectively, as was obvious when the Los Angeles Opera opened a new production of it Saturday night.
Despite the opera's three acts and three characters, Orfeo singularly dominates the work. Euridice doesn't ...