Full Synopsis

Euridice, Orfeo’s wife, has died. Her husband and friends weep on her tomb. Orfeo, remaining alone, gives himself over to total despair. Love appears and announces to him that the gods have taken pity on him. He has been authorised to go down into the underworld to attempt to find Euridice and to bring her back to earth. However, there is one condition: he must not, under any circumstances, turn back to face her, nor explain to her why he cannot look at her. Orfeo, determined to face the challenge so as to give back life to the one he loves, leaves for the world of shadows. 

As soon as he enters the underworld, Orfeo is stopped in his tracks by the screams of the dead. They demand that any mortal that dares to approach them should be punished. Orfeo’s soothing song breaks their resistance and they let him through to look for Euridice. He finds her in the Elysian Fields, takes her by the hand, looking away from her and leads her out of the valley of death. 

Euridice does not understand why Orfeo refuses to look at her, nor reply to any of her questions. Orfeo tries to calm her grief, because she claims not to have any reason to live if he no longer loves her. Losing all hope because of his wife’s suffering, and forgetting the condition imposed by the gods, he turns towards her to comfort her. She dies at that very moment. Orfeo is once again brought down by pain, bereavement and sorrow. Love, deeply touched by his despair appears and brings Euridice back to life for the second time.