Bringing opera to regional areas

LYSTER Opera will bring Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice to the Phee Broadway Theatre Castlemaine this Saturday.

The opera, sung in French with English surtitles, will offer audiences the chance to experience one of opera’s masterpieces in an intimate theatrical setting.

The role of Orphée will be played by acclaimed tenor Paul Biencourt who has previously worked with Opera Australia, Victorian Opera and Melbourne Opera.

The performance will be supported by a chamber orchestra led by Pamela Christie, highlighting the drama and lyricism of Gluck’s score.

Orphée et Eurydice retells the ancient myth of the poet Orpheus, who descends into the underworld to reclaim his beloved Eurydice.

Orphée is granted permission to lead Euridice back to the living world on the condition that he does not look at her.

Confronting doubt, love, and human frailty along the journey, the score traces an emotional arc, from the raging Furies guarding the gates of Hades to the serene calm of the spirits in Elysium, contrasting terror with beauty.

Lyster Opera aims to present a fully immersive theatrical experience, with sets by Blair Parkinson and costumes by Maddy Connellan.

Lyster Opera is a Victorian regional touring opera company aiming to bring opera to new audiences, often in remote areas.

Tickets and further information are available at lysteropera.com.au.