Ariadne auf Naxos

Boston Lyric Opera’s January 1991 production of Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos was a milestone for the company in many ways, not the least of which was its platform to launch the enduring international career of American soprano Deborah Voigt. It was this production, reviewed by New York Times, for which critic John Rockwell declared Voigt “one truly remarkable singer” and set her on a career of Wagnerian proportions. Voigt’s astonishing performance in the title role, alongside Erie Mills as Zerbinetta, David Rampy as Tenor/Bacchus, and Kristine Jepson as Composer, all under the baton of conductor Joseph Rescigno, shines again in this musically remastered and visually enhanced recording.

Check out the original program from our 1991 production!

Prologue (Sung in English)

The young Count Dorante has persuaded the nouveau riche Monsieur Jourdain to produce an entertainment for the benefit of the Marquis e Dorimene, with whom they are both infatuated: after a banquet, there will be a performance of a tragic opera, Ariadne, by an opera seria company, then a commedia dell’a rte troupe is to present a farce, The Inconstant Zerbinetta, and the evening is to end with a grand fireworks display. The Prologue takes place backstage before the performances begin, amidst the usual chaos before the curtain rises. As the scenery is erected, the Tenor boxes the ears of the Wigmaster; the Composer of the opera seria, who is making his debut this evening, laments that his work is to be followed by a farce; the Prima Donna mocks the comedians of the farce; and Zerbinetta catches the eye of the young Composer. This scene of back stage confusion is thrown into an even greater frenzy when the Major Domo of the house announces to the players that in order to save time, his Lordship wants the two performances to be presented simultaneously. The Composer prays for death, but finally agrees to make some cuts. The assembled group discusses how best to combine two such incompatible works. The Composer is reconciled to the new plans by the charm of Zerbinetta.

The Opera (Sung in German [with Surtitles] and English)

In Greek myth, Theseus was able to slay the Minotaur in the Labyrinth on Crete, with the help of Ariadne’s ball of string. Theseus took Ariadne with him, promising to marry her, but abandoned her on the island of Naxos while she slept. The action of the opera Ariadne begins at this point.

The curtain rises on the two troupes’ collaborative Ariadne; the gaps left by the Composer’s cuts are to be filled in by the performances of the comedians.

Ariadne, in the company of her Nymphs, awakens and remembers her distress­ing abandonment. She laments Theseus’ betrayal and calls on Death to take her. The comedians are puzzled at her longing for death. Harlequin tries to console Ariadne with a song, but this only increases her calls to Hermes, the messenger of Death. The comedians try again to console her with a song and dance that end with Zerbinetta’s famous aria reassuring Ariadne that another man always comes along. Ariadne is not consoled, and withdraws into her cave, leaving the comedians to perform their own play-the courting of Zerbinetta by four suitors. The three Nymphs return to the stage and announce the arrival of Bacchus. The young god has just escaped from the sorceress Circe and when he first sees Ariadne, he mistakes her for another sorceress. She, however, mistakes him for the messenger of Death. Soon these misapprehensions are resolved and the two are united in the mystery of love. As Dorante steals away with Dorimene, Zerbinetta has the last word: another man always comes along.

Cast

Deborah Voigt

Prima Donna/Ariadne

David Rampy

Tenor/Bacchus

Erie Mills

Zerbinetta

Kristine Jepson

Composer

Creative Team

Joseph Rescigno

Conductor

Bruce Donnell

Stage Director

Rodney Griffin

Choreographer

John Michael Deegan & Sarah G. Conly

Set & Lighting Designers