Ariadne auf Naxos, Ariadne on Naxos: Character Map
Ariadne auf Naxos, Ariadne on Naxos: Roles
| Prologue | Opera | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| The prima donna | Ariadne | opera singer | soprano |
| Zerbinetta | Zerbinetta | comedian | soprano |
| The tenor | Bacchus | opera singer | tenor |
| Prologue | ||
|---|---|---|
| The composer | Opera composer | mezzo-soprano |
| The music master | Leader of Opera | baritone |
| The dancing master | Leader of Comedy | tenor |
| The Major-Domo | spoken |
- Native title: Ariadne auf Naxos
- Composers: Richard Strauss
- Librettist: Hugo von Hofmannsthal
- Language: German
- Premiere: October 25, 1912, Staatsoper Stuttgart
- Running time: 2 hours (Prologue: 40 minutes, Opera: 80 minutes)
Ariadne auf Naxos, Ariadne on Naxos: Short Synopsis
Prologue
A rich Austrian man has organized a dinner party, opera, comedy, and fireworks at his home. The opera group and the comedy group are preparing. The Major-Domo appeared and made two requests of them. First, he wants the opera and the comedy group to perform together because the dinner party has gone on too long. The second request was that they finish the play before the fireworks at 9:00 p.m. Since they had already received their performance fee, they decided to perform the opera and the comedy.
Opera
The opera takes place on the uninhabited island of Naxos. Ariadne is grieving because her lover Theseus has left her on a deserted island. She is cheered up by three nymphs. Then Zerbinetta and four clowns appear and encourage Ariadne.
A nymph informs them that a stranger has arrived on the island. The man is Bacchus, who has escaped from the witch Kilkee. Ariadne embraces him, thinking he is the messenger of death. Bacchus, too, mistakes Ariadne for a witch. They realize their mistake and fall in love.