Ariadne auf Naxos: Deutsche Oper in Concert

About the Event

Revel in the world created by Strauss for his opera satirising high society, patronage, and even opera itself.

In the wake of Elektra and Der Rosenkavalier Richard Strauss and his librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal were on the lookout for a challenge of a different kind. A planned evening combining Molière’s play “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme” followed by a short opera by Strauss proved far too long, and so Strauss and Hofmannsthal wrote their own prologue.

From the outset the idea had been to fuse comedy and tragedy, and the prologue now provides a new reason for doing so – it’s what the rich patron wants. That is the announcement of the major‐domo, the only speaking part left in the opera. And that gives von Hofmannsthal’s imaginary nameless composer ample opportunity to rebel – and fall in love with the leading comedienne, Zerbinetta, who is already on stage, although the composer had expected to find his prima donna and the tenor there. His protest evaporates, making way for the telling of the classic tale of Ariadne, who yearns for death and in the process finds a new suitor. In an interlude the clowns muscle in on the action.

In German with German supertitles

Conductor: Ulf Schirmer

Ariadne Meagan Miller
Bacchus Stefan Vinke
Najade Siobhan Stagg
Dryade Ronnita Miller
Echo Elena Tsallagova
Majordomo N. N.
Music teacher Markus Brück
Composer Daniela Sindram
Officer Clemens Bieber
Dancing master Thomas Blondelle
Wigmaker Stephen Barchi
Flunkey Noel Bouley
Zerbinetta Susanne Elmark
Harlequin N. N.
Scaramuccio Jörg Schörner
Truffaldin Tobias Kehrer
Brighella Paul Kaufmann

Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin