Orpheus and Eurydice (2008)

The Ballet de lOpera National de Paris mounted this production of the late Pina Bauschs danceopera Orpheus und Eurydike which Bausch had adapted from composer Christoph WillibaldGluck and Ranieri de Calzabigis 1762 opera Orfeo ed Euridice As the title suggests it takes its basic narrative from the myth of Orpheus and his courageous but illfated attempt to rescue his lover Eurydice also known as Eurydike from the jaws of the underworld This particular production finds Yann Bridard dancing as Orpheus and MarieAgnès Gillot dancing as Eurydike with mezzosoprano MariaRiccarda Wesseling accompanying Bridard and soprano Julia Kleiter accompanying Wesseling Pina Bausch did the choreography and stage direction while Rolf Borzik designed the sets costumes and lighting The BalthasarNeumann Ensemble Choir under the direction of Thomas Hengelbrock lend musical accompaniment