Opera on Screen: Ariadne auf Naxos

SALZBURG FESTIVAL

Ariadne auf Naxos was the third collaboration by Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal, written directly after the great success of Der Rosenkavalier. Originally planned as a “divertissement with a small chamber orchestra”, the project expanded into a grand venture combining opera, drama and ballet – and was a flop at its world premiere in 1912. The Salzburg Festival pledged to fulfill “the still-wonderful dream of its creators: to bring together the different genres of theater, ballet, drama, music and singing.” Sven-Eric Bechtolf directed this unconventional production, and had not only adapted Molière’s play Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, which preceded the opera at the time, but also reinstated the ballet music written for it subsequently. Conducted by Daniel Harding. Starring Emily Magee, Elena Moșuc, and Jonas Kaufmann. Sung in German. One interval and two acts.