Music has the power to melt hearts. When Orfeo sings, even the gods relent and the gates to the Underworld open. But will the singer succeed in snatching his beloved Euridice from the shadow of death? The tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice from Greek mythology combines all the elements that make for a great opera plot. Monteverdi’s version from 1607 is not just one of the earliest operas, but also one of the most famous.

The Carus edition meets the highest scholarly standards while sim...