Overview
Synopsis
An opera within an opera, Ariadne auf Naxos opens backstage before a performance for the wealthiest man in Vienna. Two troupes will perform; one a classical opera by a new composer, the other an Italian buffo commedia dell’arte troupe.
At the last minute, they are told the performances will happen simultaneously, and the performers scramble to attempt to fit the two completely opposite performances together. Comedically intertwined, the opera buffa meets opera seria, as the Tenor and the Prima Donna fight for the limelight.
Show Information
- Music
- Richard Strauss
- Libretto
- Hugo von Hofmannsthal
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1912
- Genres
- Comedy, Parody, Romance
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Period
- Time & Place
- Vienna, Naxos, A Theatre
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Chamber Opera, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
On the back of their success with Der Rosenkavalier, Strauss and Hofmannsthal joined forces again to create Ariadne auf Naxos. The work began as a one act opera, preceded by a short play, and was originally written to be performed after Molière’s Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme.
However, at its premiere in 1912, the combination of the play and opera were not well received. The impracticality of staging the work meant that it was rejected from many
to read the context for Ariadne Auf Naxos and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue
The richest man in Vienna is hosting a performance at his palace. His many servants prepare the stage, while the performers are making their own preparations behind the scenes. Two different troupes have been hired for the event; one troupe is presenting a new opera "Ariadne auf Naxos" by a young up-and-coming composer, while the other is presenting a comedic masquerade in the commedia dell’arte style. There is tension between the two troupes as they both want to be the center of
to read the plot for Ariadne Auf Naxos and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
Songs
Prologue
- Overture
- ‘Mein Herr Haushofmeister!’ - Musiklehrer, Haushofmeister, Lakai, Offizier
- ‘Lieber Freund! Verschaffen Sie mir di Geigen’ - Komponist, Lakai
- ‘Oh, ich möcht’ vieles ändern’ - Komponist
- ‘Für einen Bacchus!’ - Tenor, Komponist, Perückenmacher
- ‘Erst nach der Oper kommen wir daran’ - Zerbinetta, Primadonna, Musiklehrer, Komponist, Tanzmeister
- ‘Nach meiner Oper?’ - Komponist, Musiklehrer
- ‘Meine Partner! Meine erprobten Freunde!’ - Zerbinetta, Komponist, Musiklehrer, Primadonna, Tanzmeister
- ‘Die Herrschaften stehen vom Tisch auf!’ - Lakai, Musiklehrer, Haushofmeister, Primadonna, Tanzmeister, Tenor, Zerbinetta, Komponist
- ‘Ariadne auf Naxos, Herr’ - Komponist, Tanzmeister, Haushofmeister, Musiklehrer, Tenor, Primadonna, Zerbinetta
- ‘Nein, Herr, so kommt es nicht!’ - Komponist, Zerbinetta, Musiklehrer
- ‘Kindskopf! Merkt auf, wir spielen mit in dem Stück Ariadnes auf Naxos’ - Zerbinetta, Komponist
- ‘Ah Ihre Plätze, meine Damen und Herren!’ - Musiklehrer, Primadonna, Komponist
- ‘Sein wir wieder gut’ - Komponist
The Opera
- Overture
- ‘Schläft sie?’ - Najade, Dryade, Echo
- ‘Ach! Ach! Wo war ich?’ - Ariadne, Echo, Harlekin, Zerbinetta, Truffaldin
- ‘Ein Schones war, hiess Theseus-Ariadne’ - Ariadne, Najade, Dryade, Echo, Harlekin, Zerbinetta, Scaramuccio, Truffaldin
- ‘Lieben, Hassen, Hoffen, Sagen’ - Harlekin
- ‘Ach, so versuchet doch ein kleines Lied!’ - Zerbinetta, Harlekin
- 'Es gibt ein Reich, wo alles rein ist’ - Ariadne
- ‘Die dame gibt mit trübem Sinn’ - Brighella, Scaramuccio, Harlekin, Truffaldin, Zerbinetta
- ‘Großmächtige Prinzessin’ - Zerbinetta
- ‘Hübsch gepredigt! Aber tauben Ohren!’ - Harlekin, Zerbinetta, Brighella, Scaramuccio, Truffaldin
- ‘Ein schönes Wunder!’ - Dryade, Najade, Echo
- ‘Circe, Circe, kannst du mich hören? ‘ - Bacchus, Ariadne, Najade, Echo, Dryade
- ‘Du schönes Wesen!’ - Bacchus, Ariadne
- ‘Bin ich ein Gott, schuf mich ein Gott’ - Ariadne, Najade, Echo, Dryade, Zerbinetta, Bacchus
- ‘Gibt es kein Hinüber?’ - Ariadne, Bacchus, Najade, Dryade, Echo, Zerbinetta
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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