Ariadne auf Naxos

We witness a clash between opera makers and comedians, between “elite” classical musicians and creators of entertainment. Circumstances force them to perform a show together and voilà: the evening becomes a success! The combination of seemingly 'high' and 'low' art turns out to be a hit. The connecting power of music is irresistible to all! 

The story
Ariadne auf Naxos is a tragicomic opera that features a “performance within a performance. The story is set in the house of the stone-rich art collector Herr Reichmann where a party night is feverishly being prepared. With a serious opera based on the myth of Ariadne, a farce in a burlesque entourage, and a fireworks display as the finale. When, due to time constraints, the host orders opera and farce to be put together - so as not to jeopardize the fireworks show - all is set! We witness a sparking clash between “high” and “low” arts. And a textbook example of who pays, decides....

Director Laurence Dale does not let opera emerge victorious in the clash between serious opera and comedy. “It is an exchange between genres, cultures AND people. The effect of the music recalibrates the relationships between them. What still seemed an impossible task in the run-up to the party night turns into a memorable event. In our time, we often seek conflict, while there is much more that binds people. Ariadne auf Naxos is a timeless analysis of how important art is to a society.”

• In German with Dutch and English surtitles