Radio Orfeo

Radio Orfeo (2024)

for string orchestra

Duration: c. 7 minutes

In 1950 the French poet, writer and artist Jean Cocteau made his film Orphée, based on the Greek legend of Orpheus and his descent into the underworld.

Setting his film in post-war Paris, at several points in the story Cocteau shows Orpheus listening to strange messages transmitted to his car radio.

Cocteau confirmed this sound imagery was “inspired by the BBC broadcasts of the occupation” – by the mysterious and enigmatic radio transmissions which carried coded messages from the British military to French resistance fighters during WW2.

Score

Orchestral parts

Orchestral parts available at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)

and from Ty Cerdd – Music Centre Wales

Performances

Images

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