At the time of its first night (1858) the critics strongly objected to the parody of the Orpheus legend and to the satiric use of Gluck's music for Orfeo e Eurydice. So naturally it became immensely popular after that! Like "La Belle Hélène" of which I also reviewed two DVDs, it's a takeoff on Greek mythology and also, incidentally, the French Empire Period of the reign of Napoleon III.
But unlike both those DVDs, this production doesn't sparkle. The attitudes of the characters are so odd throughout that it totally lacks understandability as far as I'm concerned. And attitude here is all-important since it is necessary to understand both the original myth and the humorous intent of the librettists Hector Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy. (Halévy was also one of the collaborators on "La Belle Hélène".) The singing is quite acceptable for the most part and Elizabeth Vidal as Eurydice is much more than that. The music, like that of "Hélène", is excellent but it seems mostly flat here and, considering both it's quality and familiarity, that is a pity. The Can-Can is especially familiar and is even more risqué in this version than usual.
But that doesn't cure the "tired blood" of this production and I don't recommend it.
