Palle Nielsen’s graphic suite of Orfeus and the Eurydic motif inspired Birgit Cullberg to a modern version on this theme where the underground Hades is a petrified and warlike world. The ballet expresses the individual’s powerlessness in front of a society in which violence rests and an attempt to break out uncontrollably.
Eurydike’s death premiered in January 1968 and became an important political work on the individual’s struggle against power and oppression in a dictatorship, inspired by the film The Battle of Algiers , led by Gillo Pontecorvo and with music by Ennio Morricone.
Eurydike’s death was recorded for SVT 1970 with the Cullberg Ballet dancer. At SVT Open archive there is a documentary A choreographer’s work on Birgit’s work with the set. The work was danced at the Royal Opera in Stockholm in 1984 to celebrate Birgit’s 75th birthday. Eurydike’s death was recreated by Ana Laguna and Mats Ek 2017 for the 50th anniversary of the Cullberg Ballet. The original costume was made by Eva Ek-Schaeffer and was recreated by Mylla Ek for the 50th anniversary. Martin Säfström was the lighting designer for the new set.
With 14 dancers.