The San Francisco Conservatory of Music Opera will present Mozart’s “The Impresario” and the prologue to Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” on Nov. 21 and 22, 2019. The performances will take place at the Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall and will be directed by Heather Mathew, who is the Associate Program Director of the Opera and Musical Theatre department at the {…}
(Credit: Bo Huang) On Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2019, the Vienna State Opera will live stream Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne Auf Naxos.” The opera, which will be performed in a production by Sven-Eric Bechtolf, will be conducted by Michael Boder and will star Hans Peter Kammerer, Jochen Schmeckenbecher, Kate Lindsey, Stephen Gould, Hila Fahima, and Adrianne Pieczonka. The stream kicks off at {…}
(Credit: Philip Groshong) In Greek myth, Theseus cruelly abandons Ariadne on a desert island, but she’s ultimately rescued by Bacchus. Cincinnati Opera, by contrast, abandons Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” to a gimmicky concept from which no rescue is possible. As the rewards — such as they were — of this production proved musical in nature, this review will begin {…}
Next to Verdi, Wagner, Mozart, and Puccini, Richard Strauss is one of the most important composers in the history of opera. Born on June 11, 1864, he was a prominent figure during the early part of the 20th century. Many of his most famed operas are major staples of the repertory and even his lesser-known works are held in high {…}
Amy Owens is the true definition of renaissance artist. As a coloratura soprano, she gravitates more to recitals and concert operas rather than staged productions. She released an electronic pop album this summer, right before attending the Linda and Mitch Hart Dallas Institute for Women Conductors. Just for the fun of it, Owens took on rare (and more difficult) version of {…}
The Vienna State Opera’s continues its hugely popular live stream series with Strauss’ “Ariadne Auf Naxos.” Two days after its “Der Freischutz” showcase, the company will present the final performance of “Ariadne auf Naxos” on Sept. 13, 2018. The cast includes such stars as Peter Matic, Stephen Gould, Daniela Fally, Adrianne Pieczonka, Sophie Koch, and Jochen Schmeckenbecher. Peter Lange conducts. {…}
The last time Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” was seen at Santa Fe Opera in 1999, the world was on the brink of a new millennium. Nineteen years later, this masterpiece finally saw a brilliant return to the Crosby Theater, in a new production by director Tim Albery and set and costume designer Tobias Hoheisel. Though “Ariadne auf Naxos” is now considered one {…}
It’s Valentine’s Day, the day to cherish a significant other. Last year we took a cynical look at the holiday, but not this year. Opera is rife with love, almost every single plot in every single work has some communion of two persons in that blissful word. In fact, love in opera has incited just as many battles and tension {…}
The Vienna State Opera’s livestreaming series continues on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, with a performance of Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos.” The production, directed by Sven-Eric Bechtolf, will be conducted by Peter Schneider and features a cast that includes Peter Matic, Markus, Eiche, Rachel Frenkel, Erin Morley, Lise Davidsen in the title role and Stephen Gould as Bacchus. The stream kicks {…}
Rene Kollo (or René Kollodzieyski, as he was born on Nov. 20, 1937), was a renowned Wagnerian tenor. He took on every major leading role by the great composer, recording almost all of his interpretations to great acclaim with the best of conductors. His Siegfried was recorded with Wolfgang Sawallisch, his Lohengrin and Walther von Stolzing with Herbert Von Karajan, {…}
“Ariadne auf Naxos” is among the more popular Strauss works in the canon, its status the result of its glorious and lush melodies that accompany its passionate love duet. But the opera as we know it today was not the way it was originally conceived. The version that premiered on Oct. 25, 1912, was actually little more than a 30-minute {…}