One of the oldest stories in Western literature, Orfeo ed Euridice illustrates the power of love and the power of music. Gluck’s version appeared in 1762 and has a lovely, soothing baroque sound.

Orfeo embodies the spirit of music and can literally soothe the savage breast of all he encounters - including gods who seriously bend the rules for this fellow. After his young wife Euridice dies, Orfeo begs the gods to be allowed to go down to the underworld and bring her back from the dead. OK, they say, with one condition: he may not look at her on the way back up or explain to her why he is not looking at her. In every version he fails this test, and has to look. What happens next? You’ll have to come and see for yourself. It may not be what you expect.