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The beautiful love story of the ancient Greek youth Orpheus, the son of the god Apollo, and the beautiful nymph Eurydice still awes in the hearts of people. Legend has it that Orpheus had a special talent. Apollo gave him a golden lyre, with which he could tame wild animals, move trees and rocks. He participated in the campaign of the Argonauts for the Golden Fleece, pacified the waves with his forming and prayers and helped the rowers of the Argo ship.
In the north of Greece, in Thrace, lived the singer Orpheus. He had a wonderful gift of songs, and his fame spread throughout the land of the Greeks. Once he met the marvelous Eurydice, and love took possession of his heart. For the songs, the beautiful Eurydice fell in love with him. She became his wife. But their happiness was short-lived. Once Orpheus and Eurydice were in the forest. Orpheus played his seven-stringed cithara and sang. Eurydice was gathering flowers in the meadows. Imperceptibly, she moved away from her husband, into the wilderness. Suddenly it seemed to her that someone was running through the forest, breaking branches, chasing her, she was frightened and, throwing flowers, ran back to Orpheus. She ran, not understanding the road, through the thick grass and in a swift run she stepped into the snake's nest. The snake coiled around her leg and stung. Eurydice screamed loudly in pain and fear and fell on the grass.
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Orpheus heard from a distance the plaintive cry of his wife and hurried to her. But he saw how large black wings flashed between the trees - it was Death that carried Eurydice to the underworld. Great was the grief of Orpheus. He left people and spent whole days alone, wandering through the forests, pouring out his longing in songs. And there was such power in these dreary songs that the trees left their places and surrounded the singer. Animals came out of their holes, birds left their nests, stones moved closer. And everyone listened to how he yearned for his beloved. Nights and days passed, but Orpheus could not be consoled, his sadness grew with every hour.
— No, I can't live without Eurydice! he said. “The land is not dear to me without her. Let Death take me, even if in the underworld I will be together with my beloved!
But Death did not come. And Orpheus decided to go to the realm of the dead himself.
furies
For a long time he searched for the entrance to the underworld and, finally, in the deep cave of Tenora he found a stream that flowed into the underground river Styx. Along the bed of this stream, Orpheus descended deep underground and reached the banks of the Styx.
Black and deep are the waters of the Styx, and it is terrible for the living to step into them. Orpheus heard sighs, quiet crying behind his back - these were the shadows of the dead, waiting, like him, for the crossing to the country from which there is no return to anyone. Beyond this river began the realm of the dead.
Here a boat separated from the opposite shore: the carrier of the dead, Charon, sailed for new aliens. Silently moored to the shore Charon, and the shadows obediently filled the boat. Orpheus began to ask Charon:
- Take me to the other side!
But Charon refused: “Only the dead I bring to the other side. When you die, I will come for you! — Have pity!
Orpheus pleaded. I don't want to live anymore! It's hard for me to stay on the ground alone! I want to see my Eurydice!
But great was the love of Orpheus. With his magical voice, he bewitched the stern Heron, and he, violating the ban, transported him to the other side, to the kingdom of gloomy Hades.
New trials await Orpheus. At first, he was blocked by the evil witch furies
choir of furies
from Gluck's
"Orpheus and Eurydice"
Then the three-headed dog Cerberus rushed at him. But they are not afraid of Orpheus.
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With his singing, he touched the inexorable fairies, pacified the evil dog Cerberus. Playing the golden lyre, Orpheus approached the throne of Hades, the god of the underworld of the dead, and bowed respectfully before him.
God of the kingdom of the dead, struck by the courage of a mortal, looked at him for a long time, and then ordered him to sing.
And then Orpheus sang about his great love for Eurydice, about his immense longing for her.
Aria of Orpheus from Gluck's "Orpheus and Eurydice"
Bowing his head to his chest, he listened to the inspired singing of Hades. Tears trembled on the eyelashes of his wife Persephone. The entire underworld listened to the singer. But then the golden strings died down, the song of Orpheus froze. Hades was silent for a long time, then said: "Great singer! You touched me. Your art is worthy of the reward of the gods. I will let Eurydice go with you. But remember my condition! When you return, Eurydice will follow you. Go and don't look back until you're out of my realm. If you break my condition, you'll lose her forever."
And so Orpheus set off on his way back. He hears the steps of Eurydice behind him. Already behind the dark kingdom of Hades, the black waters of the sacred Styx. A rocky narrow path leads up to the light. The first sunbeam has already dawned, the exit is close! Suddenly Eurydice screamed and ... Orpheus turned around and looked at Eurydice. He saw Eurydice very close by, and in desperation held out his hands to her. But in vain. The shadow of Eurydice began to quickly move away and disappeared into the darkness ... Orpheus petrified, seized with despair.
Suddenly Eurydice screamed and. Orpheus turned around and looked at Eurydice. He saw Eurydice very close by, and in desperation held out his hands to her. But in vain. The shadow of Eurydice began to quickly move away and disappeared into the darkness . Orpheus petrified, seized with despair.
Years passed. Orpheus died. His golden lyre floated alone on the waters of the swift river. But the gods did not let the lyre of the great singer die. They picked it up and carried it to the sky. When the stars light up in the evenings, the Lyra constellation shines among them...
The ancient Greek myth glorified the great power of music, subduing even the immortal gods.
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In the eighteenth century, Christopher Gluck wrote the opera "Orpheus and Eurydice" in which the immortal myth found its perfect embodiment. There are many beautiful moments in this opera and the famous "Melody" whose theme is played by a flute.
Listen: a divine sound that can be listened to indefinitely and it's all thanks to a small flute.
The flute rarely manages to be a soloist - here she is lucky and the flute appears before us in all its glory.
Melody by Gluck
Myth of
Orpheus and Eurydice
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Answer the questions:
1.
What is a myth?
How does it differ from fairy tales and legends?
2.
What instrument did Orpheus play?
3.
Who wrote the opera "Orpheus and Eurydice"?
4.
Why did Eurydice die?
5.
Where did Orpheus descend to return Eurydice?
6.
What evil creatures' choir sounds in the opera Orpheus and Eurydice?
7.
After listening to the aria of Orpheus, tell us what mood it conveys and what is it about?
8.
What musical instrument leads the theme in the famous "Melody" from the opera "Orpheus and Eurydice"
9.
What feelings does Gluck's "Melody" evoke in you?
