Ariadne auf Naxosis perhaps the most wonderfully strange of Richard Strauss's operas, and the most inventive of the ones in which he considers...... more
Ariadne auf Naxosis perhaps the most wonderfully strange of Richard
Strauss's operas, and the most inventive of the ones in which he considers the nature of opera itself. A young composer and commedia dell'arte coquette Zerbinetta flirt as their patron demands that tragic opera and comedy be performed at the same time;
Ariadne moons around her desert island waiting for death and teased by Zerbinetta and her clowns, only to be saved by the God Bacchus. Colin Davis loves this opera and brings out every morsel of its wit and its yearning romanticism; this Dresden production takes intelligent liberties and manages to charm almost as much visually as it does musically. In the breeches part of the young composer, Sophie Koch has a passionate vulnerability; Susan Anthony as the diva and as
Ariadne has a haughtiness and a sadness that are almost as touching. Iride Martinez captures Zerbinetta's mercurial wit and high-octane sexuality; as Bacchus, Jon Villars is at once ardent and other-worldly. It is almost impossible to imagine a more delightful version of this great opera.On the DVD: The DVD has subtitles in English, French and Spanish; the picture quality and sound are excellent. --Roz Kaveney
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