In Season 55, the Lexington Legends will be returning to our traditional storytelling show style. We turn our eyes to Greece - what better place to look for a good tragedy? Our story will be about one of the greatest musicians in all of mythology, and is called "Orpheus and Eurydice". This version of the story will take some slight liberties but will not change the important details.

Part one - Orpheus and Eurydice in love
It is the day of Orpheus and Eurydice's wedding. Both of them are very happy, but a strange undercurrent of sadness pervades. As Eurydice approaches Oprheus, she is bitten by a snake and dies. Orpheus is distraught at the loss of his bride to be. He decides to head to the Underworld to plead with Hades for her release.

Part two - Orpheus in the Underworld
As Orpheus travels through the Underworld, he plays his lyre to charm the spirits and monsters guarding the way. The Furies weep, Sisyphus stops pushing his rock, and all the spirits gather to listen to Orpheus' sad song. He finally reaches Hades, and begs him to release Eurydice. Hades agrees on one condition - Orpheus must not look at Eurydice until they leave the Underworld, or she will be returned to the Underworld forever. Orpheus agrees, and leaves with Eurydice following behind.

Part three - Orpheus leaves the Underworld
As Orpheus and Eurydice leave, they nearly reach the exit before a loud bang rings out. Startled, Orpheus turns around and makes eye contact with Eurydice, who is dragged back to Hades.

Part four - Orpheus grieves
After having lost his beloved Eurydice for the second time, Orpheus is inconsolable. He realizes that he cannot live without Eurydice. After a short walk through the trees and laying one last song, Orpheus takes his life. His body is found by the Muses, who give him a proper burial.

Here is the music. I will put time stamps soon in case anyone wants to listen (some of these selections are quite lengthy, but definitely worth listening to) without spending two hours on my show.

Part one
Orpheus and Eurydice prepare for the wedding: Death and Transfiguration, by Richard Strauss (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K3E1wZWSn0)
Eurydice is bitten by the snake: Death and Transfiguration, by Richard Strauss (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K3E1wZWSn0)
Orpheus in despair: Death and Transfiguration, by Richard Strauss (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K3E1wZWSn0)
Orpheus decides to visit Hades: Symphony No. 6 (Mvt. 1), by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcTJIO_bprg)

Part two
Orpheus journeys to the Underworld, begs with Hades, and secures her release: Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata, Mvt. 1), by Ludwig van Beethoven (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT7_IZPHHb0)

Part three
Orpheus looks back and loses Eurydice: Symphony No. 2, by Gustav Mahler (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFY7_Tx98G8)

Part four
Orpheus grieves, sings one last song, and takes his life: When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament), by Henry Purcell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGQq3HcOB0Y)
Muses find Orpheus and bury him: With drooping wings, by Henry Purcell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHFLb7r7s5M)

Death and Transfiguration time stamps - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K3E1wZWSn0
Orpheus/Eurydice prepare for wedding: 0:55-5:20
Eurydice is bitten by the snake: 5:25-6:14
Orpheus grieves: 6:15-8:00

Tchaikovsky 6 time stamps - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcTJIO_bprg
Orpheus heads to the Underworld: 11:25-14:05

Moonlight Serenade - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT7_IZPHHb0
Orpheus journeys through the Underworld, charms monsters/spirits, begs with Hades and secures Eurydice's release: no time stamp, it's just based off of this whole movement

Mahler 2 time stamps - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFY7_Tx98G8
Orpheus and Eurydice wander from the Underworld, with Orpheus not looking back: 2:22-4:15
A loud bang sounds, Orpheus looks at Eurydice, Eurydice is taken away: 9:58-10:35

Purcell time stamps
Orpheus grieves, sings his final song, ends his life (Dido's Lament) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGQq3HcOB0Y (no time stamps, based on whole movement)
The Muses find and bury Orpheus (With drooping wings) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHFLb7r7s5M (no time stamps, based on whole movement)

This version of the Purcell plays it all uninterrupted if you like that better - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePdic5HLb-U