The great musician Orphée mourns the death of his wife Eurydice. Amour, the god of love, tells Orphée that the gods have granted him permission to journey down to Hades. If he can calm the Furies with his music, he may lead Eurydice back to the land of the living – on the condition that he never once look back at her on their journey.
Orphée appeases the Furies with his music, and finds Eurydice in Elysium. He begins to lead her back, but she is distressed by his strange behavior. She faints and Orphée looks back; Eurydice dies in his arms. Amour appears and consoles Orphée. His fidelity now proven, Eurydice may be restored to him. Orphée, Eurydice and Amour celebrate the power of love.
