Ariadne on Naxos

Sparks fly in this uproarious tussle for centre stage.

The richest man in Vienna has commissioned an evening’s entertainment. But when a tragic opera and a comedy troupe are forced to share the same stage, all bets are off. Strauss’ opera-within-an-opera is part farce, part dream-like fantasy, set to one of his most luscious scores.

Laurent Pelly returns to Glyndebourne to direct this new staging, with Robin Ticciati conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The cast includes Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Ariadne, Samantha Hankey as Composer and David Butt Philip as Bacchus. Alina Wunderlin returns to perform another key coloratura role as Zerbinetta, after impressing as Queen of the Night in Festival 24.

Sung in German with English supertitles.

Get a feel for the music with this Organ Room Session featuring Lise Davidsen performing ‘Es gibt ein Reich’ from Ariadne auf Naxos:

Synopsis

Prologue

At the house of the richest man in Vienna, two theatre troupes are preparing for their performances: a commedia dell’arte group, led by the comedienne Zerbinetta, and an opera company presenting a serious opera, ‘Ariadne auf Naxos’. The Major-Domo announces that, to save time, both entertainments must be performed simultaneously.

The idealistic young Composer is loath to permit any changes to his opera. But when his teacher, the Music Master, points out that his pay depends on accepting the situation, and when Zerbinetta turns her charms upon him, he complies. When he fully realises what he has agreed, he storms out.

The opera

Ariadne, who has been abandoned by Theseus, laments her lost love and yearns for death. Zerbinetta and her four companions from the commedia dell’arte troupe attempt to cheer Ariadne by singing and dancing, but without success. Zerbinetta insists that the best way to cure a broken heart is to find another love. Each of the four commedia men pursues Zerbinetta.

Naiad, Dryad and Echo announce the arrival of a stranger. Ariadne assumes it is the messenger of death, but in fact it is Bacchus, who falls instantly in love with Ariadne. As Ariadne and Bacchus celebrate their love, Zerbinetta claims that she was right all along.

Program and cast

Creative team

Conductor: Robin Ticciati

Director & Costume Designer: Laurent Pelly

Set Designer: Massimo Troncanetti 

Lighting Designer: Marco Giusti

London Philharmonic Orchestra

The Glyndebourne Chorus

Cast includes

Ariadne: Rachel Willis-Sørensen

Composer: Samantha Hankey

Zerbinetta: Alina Wunderlin

Bacchus: David Butt Philip 

Music Master: Michael Kraus

Dancing Master: Ru Charlesworth 

Truffaldino: Liam James Karai

Naiad: Anna Denisova

Dryad: Ekaterina Chayka-Rubinstein

Echo: Eirin Rognerud

Performance timings

Timings are subject to change.

22 July
1 August

Grounds open: 3.30pm
Opera starts: 5.30pm
Interval (90 mins): 6.10pm
Opera resumes: 7.40pm
Opera ends: 9.00pm

19 & 26 July
3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 21, 23, 26, 29 August

Grounds open: 2.00pm
Opera starts: 4.00pm
Interval (90 mins): 4.40pm
Opera resumes: 6.10pm
Opera ends: 7.30pm