‘It’s about the power of music and art’: Glyndebourne stages its first ever L’Orfeo

Glyndebourne presented its first-ever staging of Claudio Monteverdi's 1607 opera L'Orfeo this week, directed by artist William Kentridge. Described by Kentridge as an opera about opera and the power of music and art, L'Orfeo is one of the earliest operas still performed today. Monteverdi, a genius composer, titled his work a "favola in musica," or legend in music. The opera features the allegorical character La Musica, sung by Francesca Aspromonte, who declares music's power over nature. The protagonist, Orfeo, is depicted as a musician with the ability to influence rocks, trees, animals, and human emotions. Francesca Aspromonte also portrays Euridice in this production, and is shown in rehearsal alongside director William Kentridge and Roseline Wilkens, who also sings Euridice. Conductor Jonathan Cohen highlighted Monteverdi's genius in crafting a piece that explores the profound influence of music.