ACT I: At Eurydice’s tomb, nymphs and shepherds enter to mourn and perform funeral rites. Orphée, Eurydice’s husband, calls out in grief (“Objet de mon amour”) and the others echo him. Orphée vows to avenge her death and bring her back to the world of the living.  Cupid appears and tells Orphée that the gods have taken pity on him and will allow him to descend into Hades and, if he can appease the Furies, he may bring Eurydice back with him. His delight is short-lived when Cupid explains that he may neither look at his wife, nor explain his reason to her, until they have returned to earth, otherwise he will lose her forever (“Soumis au silence”). Orphée agrees and sets off to rescue his wife.

ACT II: Furies and demons of the underworld threaten Orphée and try to make him turn back (“Quel est l’audacieux”). Orphée pleads with the Furies to allow him to pass. Eventually his singing placates them and they allow him to continue on.  Finding himself in the Elysian Fields, Orphée marvels at their beauty (“Quel nouveau ciel”). Spirits appear and Orphée begs them to bring him his wife (“Près du tendre objet”). The Spirits present Eurydice to him and he leads her away without looking at her.

ACT III: As Orphée leads Eurydice back to Earth, he begs her to hurry but she is suspicious of his strange behavior which, no matter how much she questions him, he refuses to explain. Eurydice becomes increasingly jealous and distraught thinking that he no longer loves her (“Fortune ennemie”). In his attempts to comfort her, Orphée accidently turns to her and Eurydice dies. Filled with grief, Orphée expresses his desperation (“J’ai perdu mon Eurydice”) and decides that he cannot live without her.  Just as Orphée is about to kill himself, Cupid reappears and stops him, saying that he has proved his love for his wife. Cupid revives Eurydice and they all return to Earth.  At Cupid’s temple, all rejoice. Orphée and Eurydice celebrate with Cupid and all the nymphs and shepherds the power of Orphée’s love (“L’Amour triomphe”).