It is 400 years since the premiere of the world's first acknowledged opera: Monteverdi's L'Orfeo. To celebrate, the ABC invited compositions in the form of an original 4-minute work for radio, which responded to both the Orpheus myth and to the notion of 'opera'. John Jacobs and ABC Classic FM´s Stephen Adams chat about these responses and play a selection of their favourite entries. Later in the show we take to the hills and go drilling for black gold in the op shops of Dandenong with Jim Knox, fusing indigenous folk with western pop. music details: Trials of Orpheo, by S. Scholte Black Orpheus, by Dr. Drew and Juan J Overworld, by Richard deHove Orfeo der erst puseran, by Trond Reinholdsen Dancing trees, by Zenzadoo Operatic glitch, by Brad Schwede Orpheus´ journey through hell, by Remo Calesso Even missiles refused, by non specialist The Willies,by B.J. Morriszonkle The myth of the myth, by Cecil Brown There ain´t but one kind of blues, by Venn
