“Eurydice” is the eighth work by Greek composer George Psarras. With lyrics by librettist A.E.H. Macy, the opera is based on Euripides’ “Achilles’ Last Steps.” The two operas are set in Ancient Greece, but within a similar time frame and circumstances.
According to the American Opera Festival, Eurydice is the wife of the King of Crete and “falls in love with the thief Naxos,” who kills herself to steal her father’s treasure. In an attempt to save the marriage, Eurydice tries to attract the King’s attention by pretending to be his dead lover. Is her plan fooling him?
Since this is a musical, there are many bold choices made. Although the pieces are sung in musical theater standards (or some of them, anyway), the music has its own sound, one derived from the chorus. If you like this sort of thing, it will be worth a listen. If you’re looking for something a little less willy-nilly, though, you might not find it in “Eurydice.”
Perhaps it’s because this particular opera is not associated with the Greek gods and goddesses, which requires a different approach. But I can’t help but wish that the opera opened with some kind of an explanation of why the gods exist.