Orpheus
oder
Die wunderbare beständigkeit der liebe
opera in three acts by Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Group bookings
Groups (min 15 tickets), may do preliminary bookings from now on, by contacting the Box Office>>>
Schedule 2025
Sat 2 August at 16.00 Première
Mon 4 August at 19.00
Wed 6 August at 19.00
Fri 8 August at 19.00
Sun 10 August at 16.00
Tue 12 August at 19.00*
Wed 13 August at 19.00*
Sat 16 August at 16.00
*Recording, cameras in the auditorium
Francesco Corti
Elena Barbalich
Orfeo ed Euridice has become an important part of Swedish opera history. It was the most frequently performed opera at Drottningholms Slottsteater during the 20th century.
In August 2025, George Philipp Telemann's Orpheus will be performed for the first time at the theatre.
The opera was only rediscovered at the end of the 20th century, and Telemann's work introduces a new main character into the story. It is Orasia, Queen of Thrace, who is unhappily in love with Orpheus. If the message of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is that you cannot go back and change your destiny, the message of the addition of Orasia is that you cannot change the destiny of another person either.
“Drottningholm is the perfect stage to present production of rarely performed pieces. In this case we will have an absolute masterpiece that deserves to be known by a large public. The audience will possibly be familiar with the myth of Orfeo, and will be very surprised they didn’t know this piece before!”
Most of the text is sung in German, in the German musical style, but there are also arias in the two competing styles of the time, Italian and French, with lyrics in the respective languages.
“It will be very exciting to have the combination of the three styles and languages in the performance.”
When the opera was rediscovered, parts such as transitions between arias were missing. Musical director Francesco Corti will add music by Telemann and other contemporary Hamburg composers to create a complete Drottningholm version.
Director Elena Barbalich, who also teaches directing at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, has a deep interest in classical mythology.
“In my version of Orpheus, I will try to unravel some of the mysteries hidden in this ancient myth. ”
Conductor • Francesco Corti
Director • Elena Barbalich
Scenographer • Christer Nilsson
Costumes • Anna Kjellsdotter
Wigs and make-up • Rebecka Andersson
Cast tba
The Drottningholm Theatre Chorus
The Drottningholm Theatre Orchestra
With support from
The Friends of Drottningholms Slottsteater via the Henrik Nordmark Foundation, Helge Kuba, Ad Infinitum Foundation