Language: German
Subtitles: English, French, Italian, Spanish

Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60, is a 1912 opera by Richard Strauss with a German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The opera's unusual combination of elements of low commedia dell'arte with those of high opera seria points up one of the work's principal themes: the competition between high and low art for the public's attention.

Strauss, being a native son, had a close association with Munich and was held in high regard, but had to miss the performance as he was on a concert tour in Russia. The audience openly expressed its disapproval of the piece by hissing after the first act. For the succeeding performances, Walter introduced cuts and moved the production to the Hoftheater, and the attendance began to improve.

In 1911, the day after the creation of The Knight of the Rose, the German composer Richard Strauss and the Viennese poet Hugo von Hofmannsthal were eager to renew their collaboration. Hofmannsthal suggests that Strauss write an adaptation of Molière's Bourgeois gentilhomme. It would be a question of translating and narrowing the French play, and of introducing an opera on the mythological subject of Ariadne abandoned on the island of Naxos, instead and place du grand Ballet des Nations finale on music by Lully - this lyrical work would be presented as a creation by Monsieur Jourdain's Music Master and would mix the tragic genre with the buffoon genre.

Director: Katie Mitchell (Director), Marc Albrecht (Music Conductor)
Cast: Paris Orchestra, La prima donna / Ariane: Lise Davidsen, The Tenor / Bacchus: Eric Cutler, Zerbinetta: Sabine Devieilhe, The composer: Angela Brower, The music master: Josef Wagner, The Dancer: Rupert Charlesworth, Harlequin: Huw Montague Rendall, Brighella: Jonathan Abernethy, Scaramuccio: Emilio Pons, Truffaldino: David Shipley, Naiad: Beate Morda,l Dryad: Andrea Hill, Echo: Elena Galitskaya, An officer: Petter Moen, A wig maker: Jean-Gabriel Saint Martin, A lackey: Sava Vemić, The butler: Maik Solbach, The richest man in Vienna: Paul Herwig, His wife: Julia Wieninger