DVD 7117 ORFEO ED EURYDICE (Gluck)

This performance of the Pina Bausch production of Gluck's opera features the "doubled" casting--that is, the roles are danced with Bausch's choreography and the singers perform the vocal roles on the same stage. While some of Bausch's choreography is a bit too busy, the overall effect of the work--truncated because she removes the "happy ending," leaving both Euridice and Orfeo dead at the end--is powerful. The singing is excellent, with a fine (but not familiar) mezzo performing the role of Orfeo. Interestingly, though the performace is in Paris, it is sung in German, with French subtitles. (I do not understand the reference to "(Schubert) Tokyo" in the Premiere listing for this DVD--the names are not correct, either.) On the whole, this is a beautiful and valuable record of Bausch's work, especially welcome because of her recent and lamented death.