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These two choruses are extracted from the Act I of L’Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi. They can be sung unaccompanied or accompanied by an instrumental formation or on the basso continuo. It was firstly a challenge given by the Marquess of Mantua after he saw Jacopo Peri’s Eurydice being performed. Alessandro Striggio was the son of a composer, an amabassador for the Gonzagas, a viol player and a talented poet. He wrote the booklet of this favola in musica composed of an introduction and five acts, written with instrumental ritornellos with choirs intertwined with duets and trios. It was created at the Ducal palace, mantua on February 24, 1607, for the carnival. It can be considered as being the first opera ever. He was inspired by the myth of Orpheus as it is written in Ovid’s Metamorphoses and in Virgil’s Georgics. The allegory of Music talks to the audience and explains the theme and the incredible effects of music on souls. The beginning of the opera is bucolic and deals with Orpheus and Eurydice’s love story and the news of her death. Orpheus decides to go and find her in hell. With the help of gods and his charming voice, he managed to convince Pluto to get her back through the livings. The only condition was that he mustn't look back, but of course he can’t help himself but doing it. Eurydice disappeared but Orpheus’ despair moved Apollo and he granted him the immortality and Oprheus ascended, getting back to Eurydice who was changed into a constellation.
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