ORPHÉE

Philip Glass’s Orphée transforms Jean Cocteau’s celebrated reimagining of the Orpheus myth into a luminous meditation on art, love, and mortality. The poet Orphée, disillusioned by fame and estranged from those closest to him, is drawn into an enigmatic realm where the boundaries between life and death begin to dissolve. As he encounters a young poet, a mysterious Princess, and the ghostly forces that shape his destiny, Orphée embarks on a journey of self-discovery and artistic renewal. Set to Glass’s hypnotic score, Orphée is a haunting exploration of creativity, transcendence, and the enduring search for meaning. This striking new production once again showcases the artistry and imagination of visual composer Oyoram (Bluebeard’s Castle, 2023; The Cunning Little Vixen, 2025).

PERFORMANCES
Saturday, July 3 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, July 11 at 2:00 pm
Friday, July 16 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, July 21 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 24 at 7:30 pm

MUSIC BY
Philip Glass

LIBRETTO BY
the composer based on the film by Jean Cocteau

PREMIERED
March 14, 1993
American Repertory Theater, Cambridge, MA

SUNG IN
French (with projected English translations)

PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
Company Premiere