Very strong performances. Typical grace and finesse by Gedda; authentic French idiomatic singing from Pilou and Eda -Pierre. Sound is very good.

Despite the fact that I consider Gluck’s 1774 French version of his Orfeo ed Euridice less convincing than the initial (1762) Italian one & that this 1975 recording shows it’s 'pre-historically-informed' age, it is never-the-less an exciting document.The ultra high tenor tessitura of Orphée seems to hold no obstacles for N. Gedda, who only seems to come to his limits in the florid virtuoso aria ending act one. His voice may be less sensuous than Léopold Simoneau’s (who recorded this version earlier commercially) but has an almost androgynous, ethereal quality, while still making powerful use of the words when necessary. Both sopranos have beautifully contrasting timbres & the advantage of being native French singers. I’m not overwhelmed by the conducting, especially in the long, too long ballett-music, but that might also be because the way we hear this music performed today has changed so much; the same applies to the chorus. For a Gedda & Gluck fan, as I am, certainly a must!