Programs · Episode

Orpheus Double Bill: MONTEVERDI & GLUCK

Program: At the Opera
Aired: Saturday, October 3, 2026 @ 6:00 pm listen
Hosted by Lisa Simeone

The mythological tale of Orpheus dates back as far as the 6^th century B.C.  The story has inspired plays by writers ranging from Aeschylus to Tennessee Williams – not to mention dozens of operas, including two of the most consequential operas ever composed. One, written in the early 17^th century by Monteverdi, may be the first truly great opera ever composed. Another, composed by Gluck about 150 years later, moved opera – still a young art form – in an entirely new direction. On At the Opera, we’ll explore both dramas, in recordings featuring tenors Ian Bostridge and Garreth Morrell, and countertenors Derek Lee Ragin and Philippe Jaroussky, as the hero Orpheus.