Monteverdi’s 1607 work, L'Orfeo, is the earliest opera still regularly performed. It’s based on the Greek legend of Orpheus and tells the story of his descent to Hades and his fruitless attempt to bring his dead bride, Eurydice, back to the living world - a comedy, fun for the whole family. For the 17th Century, however, it was hugely avant garde because it addressed the true nature of love and what a husband would do for his beloved wife. All of which, naturally, brings us to the Old Testament.
© 2024 John Oliver
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