Posted by Soma on December 30, 19102 at 09:45:24:

In Reply to: Gluck Opera posted by Shraddhamurti on August 03, 19102 at 16:47:52:

: I heard a piece of a Gluck opera a couple of years ago, while driving, and was so struck by its poignancy and melancholia.

From your description it is the aria by Orpheus "Che faro senza Euridice" (English version: 'I have lost thee, Euridice').

It is from Gluck's opera "Orpheus and Euridice". Orpheus's wife, Euridice, dies. Orpheus goes down to Hell and can bring her back provided he doesn't look at her. He takes her by the hand to lead her out of Hell, but she complains that he won't look at her. She henpecks him until he does looks at her and so she has to stay in Hell. It is then that he sings the wonderful aria you describe so well with 'its poignancy and melancholia'.

Anyway, it all works out in the end - he gets her back!

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