Orpheus and Eurydice
Encyclopedia
Orpheus
and Eurydice
is a tale from Greek legend. Works making holistic use of this legend
include:
Orpheus
Orpheus was a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth. The major stories about him are centered on his ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music; his attempt to retrieve his wife from the underworld; and his death at the hands of those who...
and Eurydice
Eurydice
Eurydice in Greek mythology, was an oak nymph or one of the daughters of Apollo . She was the wife of Orpheus, who loved her dearly; on their wedding day, he played joyful songs as his bride danced through the meadow. One day, a satyr saw and pursued Eurydice, who stepped on a venomous snake,...
is a tale from Greek legend. Works making holistic use of this legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
include:
Literature
- The Death of Eurydice episode which occurs in Book X of Metamorphoses by Ovid (8 AD)
- Sir OrfeoSir OrfeoSir Orfeo is an anonymous Middle English narrative poem, retelling the story of Orpheus as a king rescuing his wife from the fairy king.-History and Manuscripts:...
, anonymous narrative poem (c. late thirteenth century) - The Tale of Orpheus and Erudices his QueneThe Tale of Orpheus and Erudices his QueneThe Tale of Orpheus and Erudices his Quene is a poem by the Scottish northern renaissance poet Robert Henryson that adapts and develops the Greek myth which most famously appears in two classic Latin texts, the Metamorphoses of Ovid and the Georgics of Virgil....
, poem by Robert Henryson (c.1470) - Sonnets to OrpheusSonnets to OrpheusThe Sonnets to Orpheus are a cycle of sonnets written by German-language poet Rainer Maria Rilke in 1922. He dedicated them as a memorial for Wera Ouckama Knoop , a playmate of Rilke's daughter Ruth.-Form and style:There are 55 sonnets in the sequence, divided into two sections: the first of 26...
, allusive sonnet sequence by poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1922) - Gravity's RainbowGravity's RainbowGravity's Rainbow is a postmodern novel written by Thomas Pynchon and first published on February 28, 1973.The narrative is set primarily in Europe at the end of World War II and centers on the design, production and dispatch of V-2 rockets by the German military, and, in particular, the quest...
, novel by Thomas Pynchon, (1973) - The Ground Beneath Her FeetThe Ground Beneath Her FeetThe Ground Beneath Her Feet is the sixth novel written by Salman Rushdie. Published in 2000, it is a variation on the Orpheus/Eurydice myth with rock music replacing Orpheus' lyre...
, novel by Salman Rushdie, (1999) - Veniss UndergroundVeniss UndergroundVeniss Underground is a 2003 science fiction novel by Jeff VanderMeer, following the adult lives of three different protagonists across a short period of time in the decadent, surreal city of Veniss, which is situated above a vast underground labyrinth of hovels and mines ruled over by the amoral...
, novel by Jeff Vandermeer, (2003) - Enchanted Fire a romance novel by Roberta GellisRoberta GellisRoberta Gellis is an American writer of historical fiction, historical romance, and fantasy works. She holds masters degrees in both biochemistry and medieval literature.Many major writer of historical romance cite her as an important influence...
, (1996) - Poetry and Fear a novel by Grace AndreacchiGrace AndreacchiGrace Andreacchi is a U.S.-born author known for her blend of poetic language and modernism with a post-modernist sensibility. Andreacchi is active as a novelist, poet and playwright.-Biography:...
, (2008)
Film and drama
- The Orphic TrilogyThe Orphic TrilogyThe Orphic Trilogy is a series of three films directed by Jean Cocteau:* The Blood of a Poet * Orphée * Testament of Orpheus The Criterion Collection has released the trilogy together as a DVD boxed set....
, series of films by Jean Cocteau (1930-1959) - Eurydice (Anouilh play)Eurydice (Anouilh play)Eurydice is a play by French writer Jean Anouilh, written in 1941. The story is set in the 1930s, among a troupe of travelling performers. It combines skepticism about romance in general and the intensity of the relationship between Orpheus and Eurydice with an other-worldly mysticism...
, play by Jean Anouilh (1941) - Orpheus DescendingOrpheus DescendingOrpheus Descending is a play by Tennessee Williams. It was first presented on Broadway in 1957 where it enjoyed a brief run with only modest success. The play is basically a rewrite of an earlier play by Williams called Battle of Angels, which was written in 1940, but had been closed on its opening...
, play by Tennessee Williams (1957) - Black OrpheusBlack OrpheusBlack Orpheus is a 1959 film made in Brazil by French director Marcel Camus. It is based on the play Orfeu da Conceição by Vinicius de Moraes, which is an adaptation of the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, setting it in the modern context of a favela in Rio de Janeiro during the Carnaval...
, film by Marcel Camus (1959) - An episode of The StorytellerThe StorytellerThe StoryTeller is a live-action/puppet television series. It was an American/British co-production which originally aired in 1988 and was created and produced by Jim Henson....
: Greek Myths (1990) - OrfeuOrfeuOrfeu is a 1999 Brazilian film by direct by Carlos Diegues based on the play Orfeu da Conceição by Vinicius de Moraes. It retells the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. The film sets this legend in the modern context of Rio de Janeiro during Carnival. This film is also considered to be a much...
, film by Cacá Diegues (1999) - Eurydice (Ruhl play), play by Sarah Ruhl (2003)
- HadestownHadestownHadestown is the fourth album by Vermont-based Anaïs Mitchell, and was released by Righteous Babe Records in the U.S. on March 9, 2010. The album, a concept album, follows a variation on the Ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, where Orpheus must embark on a quest to rescue his wife Eurydice...
, folk opera by Anaïs Mitchell (2006) - Orpheus and Eurydice: A Myth Underground, theatre production written by Molly DaviesMolly DaviesMolly Davies is a British playwright originally from Norfolk but now living in London.A graduate of the university of Kent at Canterbury, she is currently writing and works part-time as a teacher....
with music by James JohnstonJames JohnstonJames Johnston may refer to:*James Johnston , Scottish Secretary of State*James William Johnston , Canadian politician and judge*James Finlay Weir Johnston , chemist...
, Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsNick Cave and the Bad SeedsNick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
for the National Youth TheatreNational Youth TheatreThe National Youth Theatre is a registered charity in London, Great Britain, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts....
at the Old VicOld VicThe Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
Tunnels, directed by James DacreJames Dacre-Selected work:*As You Like It by William Shakespeare * World Premiere of The Mountaintop by Katori Hall , 2010 Olivier Award for Best New Play, nominated for a further five Olivier, Whatsonstage and Evening Standard Awards*King James Bible *Judgement Day by Mike Poulton, after When We...
(2011)
Music and ballet
- Euridice (opera)Euridice (opera)Euridice is an opera by Jacopo Peri, with additional music by Giulio Caccini. The libretto by Ottavio Rinuccini is based on books X and XI of Ovid's...
, opera by Jacopo Peri and Giulio Caccini with librettist Ottavio Rinuccini (1600) - L'Orfeo, first opera composed by Monteverdi (1607)
- Orfeo ed EuridiceOrfeo ed EuridiceOrfeo ed Euridice is an opera composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck based on the myth of Orpheus, set to a libretto by Ranieri de' Calzabigi. It belongs to the genre of the azione teatrale, meaning an opera on a mythological subject with choruses and dancing...
, opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck (1762) - Orpheus in the UnderworldOrpheus in the UnderworldOrphée aux enfers is an opéra bouffon , or opéra féerie in its revised version, by Jacques Offenbach. The French text was written by Ludovic Halévy and later revised by Hector-Jonathan Crémieux....
, operetta by Jacques Offenbach (1858) - Orpheus und EurydikeOrpheus und EurydikeOrpheus und Eurydike is an opera by Ernst Krenek. The German text is based on a play by Oskar Kokoschka.Kokoschka began writing his play during his convalescence and it premiered in 1921, one year before Rilke's Sonnets to Orpheus appeared...
, opera by Ernst Krenek (1926) - Orpheus (ballet)Orpheus (ballet)Orpheus is a ballet made by George Balanchine on Ballet Society, which he founded together with Lincoln Kirstein and of which he was ballet master, to eponymous music from 1947 by Igor Stravinsky, his frequent collaborator, with sets and costumes by Isamu Noguchi.The premiere took place on April...
, ballet made by choreographer George Balanchine to music by Stravinsky (1948) - Orpheus and Eurydice (rock opera)Orpheus and Eurydice (rock opera)Orpheus and Eurydice is a 1975 rock opera album by Russian composer Alexander Zhurbin.-Track listing:#Prelude #Duet of Orpheus and Eurydice #Song of Orpheus #Chorus of Messengers #Farewell Scene #Look Back...
, rock opera album by Alexander Zhurbin (1975) - The Mask of OrpheusThe Mask of OrpheusThe Mask of Orpheus is an opera with music by Harrison Birtwistle and a libretto by Peter Zinovieff. It was premiered in London at the English National Opera on May 21, 1986 to great critical acclaim. A recorded version conducted by Andrew Davis and Martyn Brabbins has also received good reviews...
, opera by composer Harrison Birtwistle and librettist Peter Zinovieff (1986) - Metamorpheus, orchestral album by former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett (2005)
- EurydiceEurydiceEurydice in Greek mythology, was an oak nymph or one of the daughters of Apollo . She was the wife of Orpheus, who loved her dearly; on their wedding day, he played joyful songs as his bride danced through the meadow. One day, a satyr saw and pursued Eurydice, who stepped on a venomous snake,...
song by Sleepthief featuring Jody Quine (2006) - HadestownHadestownHadestown is the fourth album by Vermont-based Anaïs Mitchell, and was released by Righteous Babe Records in the U.S. on March 9, 2010. The album, a concept album, follows a variation on the Ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, where Orpheus must embark on a quest to rescue his wife Eurydice...
, album of songs from the folk opera of the same name by Anaïs Mitchell (2010)
Visual arts
- Orpheus and Eurydice (Titian), painting of 1511 by TitianTitianTiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1488/1490 – 27 August 1576 better known as Titian was an Italian painter, the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near...
- Orpheus and Eurydice (Poussin), painting of 1650-1651 by PoussinPoussinPoussin refers to:*Charles Jean de la Vallée-Poussin Belgian mathematician*Charles-Louis-Joseph-Xavier de la Vallée-Poussin Belgian geologist and mineralogist, father of Charles Jean*Nicolas Poussin , French painter...
Videogames
- The Battle of OlympusThe Battle of OlympusThe Battle of Olympus is a side scrolling, action-adventure game for the Nintendo Entertainment System developed by Infinity. It was published on March 28 by Imagineer in Japan for the Famicom and was titled . The North American and European versions were released for the NES in and by...
, NES and Gameboy video game by Infinity - Don't Look Back (video game)Don't Look Back (video game)Don't Look Back is a retro styled platform game playable through Adobe Flash and designed by Terry Cavanagh. The game is a modern interpretation of the Orpheus and Eurydice Greek legend....
, Atari VCS-styled Flash game by Terry Cavanagh