Orpheus in the Underworld

One of the most famous operettas of all time returns - and it does so with flair, irony, and devilishly good fun. Orpheus in the Underworld by Jacques Offenbach has long been synonymous with musical brilliance and theatrical subversion. This iconic title, featuring the legendary “infernal galop,” better known as the can-can, has captivated audiences around the world. Now it will be heard and seen at the 32nd Bydgoszcz Opera Festival in a completely new and surprising interpretation by the Opera at the Castle in Szczecin.

The mythical lovers are bored with one another, each searching for a way to escape the shackles of marriage. Unexpected help arrives in the form of Pluto, god of the underworld, who abducts Eurydice. Orpheus - reluctantly - sets off after his wife into the depths of Hades… This becomes the starting point for great fun and a cascade of comic misadventures.

The Szczecin production shifts the action from ancient settings into the world of contemporary media. Olympus becomes the set of a major television show, Earth turns into a docu-soap series, and Hell - a low-budget horror populated by exaggerated pop-culture characters. Actors, celebrities, influencers, and content creators form a colourful, over-the-top panorama of contemporary culture, providing the perfect backdrop for a story about double standards, hypocrisy, and the abuse of power.

The audience becomes a witness to a “live vision,” watching on a large screen how a performance full of irony, energy, and humour is created inside a theatrical film studio.

This version of Orpheus in the Underworld is a production that blends the lightness of operetta with wit and sharp satire, presented in a fresh, contemporary form.