Review by Jacob Józef Orlinski – Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice

Among the recordings of “Orfeo” that have accumulated over the decades, this one likely holds a prominent place for several reasons. Stefan Plyoniak brilliantly develops a different underlying tone for each of the three acts: first a sublime monument, then a duet of timbres and finally a graceful drama. In addition to the overwhelming vocal performance, Jakub Józef Orliński sets surprising accents when he develops an emphatic and extremely painful speech in the Furies scene. Finally, Elsa Dresig and Fatima Said are great singing voices and thus provide an exciting counterweight to the bright power of Jacob Józef Orlinski's timbre. Overall, the recording rushes through Gluck's landmark work in the form of clearly virtuoso playing, which also benefits from pointed drama through sensitive penetration into the score's various atmospheres. The increased tension means that the work seems in tonal relationship with the environment in which it was created in the eighteenth century. Speed, expression and power are perfectly aligned.

Gluck: Orfeo and Eurydice

Jakub Józef Orliński (Orfeo), Elsa Dreisig (Eurydice), Fatima Said (Amore), Il Giardino D'Amore, Stefan Ploniak (Leadership)
Erato