Ariadne auf Naxos

Opera by Richard Strauss to a libretto by Hofmannsthal. The first version (1912, Stuttgart) incorporates a Molière play; the second (1916, Vienna), much more often performed, consists of a prologue and a one-act tragedy.

Ariadne auf Naxos, a one-act opera with a prelude (Vorspiel) composed by R. Strauss with a libretto provided by H. von Hofmannsthal. The one-act opera (without Vorspiel) originally concluded, as an opera within a play, a version of Molière's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (in a German translation as Der Bürger als Edelmann). The single act of Ariadne presents the virtually static situation in which Ariadne laments her desertion by Theseus and awaits death, but Hofmannsthal gives it life and movement by introducing the figures of the commedia dell'arte, Zerbinetta, Harlekin, Scaramuccio, Truffaldin, and Brighella, who seek to console Ariadne and divert her thoughts. Ariadne remains disconsolate until the arrival of Bacchus renews her interest in life and love.

Der Bürger als Edelmann with the original Ariadne auf Naxos was first performed on 25 October 1912 in Stuttgart, and proved a failure. Hofmannsthal persuaded Strauss to detach Ariadne from the French comedy, and wrote for it a prelude, which shows the preparations behind stage for the entertainment and the dismay of the music master and the composer when they learn that their beautiful performance of Ariadne is to be combined with the antics of Italian comedians. In this revised form it was first performed on 4 October 1916, and ever since has held its place in the repertoire.

Operas by Richard Strauss
Guntram (1894) Feuersnot (1901) Salome (1905) Elektra (1909) Der Rosenkavalier (1911) Ariadne auf Naxos (1912) Die Frau ohne Schatten (1918) Intermezzo (1923) Die ägyptische Helena (1927) Arabella (1932) Die schweigsame Frau (1934) Friedenstag (1938) Daphne (1938) Die Liebe der Danae (1940) Capriccio (1942)

Ariadne auf Naxos (Ariadne on Naxos) is an opera by Richard Strauss with German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. It was first performed at the Hoftheater, Stuttgart, on October 25, 1912. The revised version was first performed at the Hofoper, Vienna, on October 4, 1916. It is mainly a reworking of the Greek myth of Ariadne and Bacchus.

Roles

		Premiere, October 25, 1912 (Strauss conducting)	Premiere, October 4, 1916 (revised version) (Franz Schalk)
Prologue and Opera
The prima donna/Ariadne	soprano	Maria Jeritza	Jeritza
The tenor/Bacchus	tenor	Hermann Jadlowker	Béla von Környey
Zerbinetta	coloratura soprano	Margarethe Siems	Selma Kurz
Harlequin, a player	baritone		Hans Duhan
Scaramuccio, a player	tenor
Truffaldino, a player	bass
Brighella, a player	tenor
Prologue only
The composer	mezzo-soprano		Lotte Lehmann, in for Marie Gutheil-Schoder
His music-master	baritone		Duhan
The dancing-master	tenor
A wigmaker	baritone
A footman	bass
An officer	tenor
The Major-Domo	spoken
Opera only
Naiad, a nymph	high soprano
Dryad, a nymph	contralto
Echo, a nymph	soprano
Servants

Synopsis

Die schlafende Ariadne auf Naxos by John Vanderlyn.

The opera is set in the home of 'the richest man in Vienna'. Two groups of musicians have arrived: one a burlesque group, the other an opera company. The first part of the opera is set backstage and concerns the preparations for performance, which are thrown into confusion when the Major-domo announces that both performances must take place at the same time.

After an interval the major part of the work begins. Ariadne is shown abandoned by Theseus on Naxos, bewailing her fate. At this point Zerbinetta and her four companions from the burlesque group appear. They attempt to cheer Ariadne, but without success. In a sustained and dazzling piece of coloratura singing Zerbinetta insists that the simplest way to get over a broken heart is to find another man.

The three nymphs, Naiad, Dryad and Echo, then announce the arrival of Bacchus on the island. He falls instantly in love with Ariadne and promises to set her in the heavens as a constellation.

Sources

• The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, by John Warrack and Ewan West (1992), 782 pages, ISBN 0-19-869164-5

External links

• Synopsis: Metropolitan Opera

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