Get set for an Academy of Vocal Arts Opera broadcast of Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos! The work explores the competition between high and low art for the public’s attention. A show within a show, two troupes of musicians perform two shows at the same time to create the love story of Ariadne and the god Bacchus.
The opera combines a serious classical story of Ariadne abandoned by Theseus on Naxos with a comedy troupe attempting to cheer her up. The opera features one of the most difficult and exacting soprano arias of the 20th centur: Zerbinetta’s "Großmächtige Prinzessin."
The broadcast was recorded in performances earlier this week.
Conductor David Aronson makes his Philadelphia debut conducting the AVA Opera Orchestra. Mr. Aronson, who teaches conducting and opera coaching at Vienna Conservatory Private University, made his conducting debut with Vienna State Opera in 2000, having been on the music staff since 1991.
CAST:
Major Domo: Roy A. Wilbur
Music Master: Timothy Renner
Composer: Hannah Ludwig/Rebecca Gulinello
Tenor/Bacchus: John Matthew Myers
Officer: Lukasz Zientarski
Dance Master/Brighella: Oliver Sewell
Wig Maker: Anthony Whitson-Martini
Harlequin: Daniel Gallegos/Anthony Whitson-Martini
Lackey: Daniel Gallegos
Zerbinetta: Alexandra Nowakowski/Meryl Dominguez
Naiad: Meryl Dominguez/Alexandra Nowakowski
Prima Donna/Ariadne: Claire de Monteil
Scaramuccio: Matthew White
Truffaldino: Brent Michael Smith
Echo: Alexandra Razskazoff
Dryad: Gabriela Flores
Don't miss this rarely performed work, Sunday, March 4th at 3 pm on WRTI 90.1.