Larry Littany Litt
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS "Ariadne auf Naxos" If all operas were like "Ariadne auf Naxos," it would be impossible to get tickets. Richard Strauss has taken his dislike of Wagnerian high drama and mixed it with its extreme opposite, Renaissance Commedia dell Arte. Ariadne, as we all know, is the mythical princess abandoned on the island of Naxos by Theseus, once her lover. She is waiting for his return and her death. She’s bored with island life. Alas this opera is about something much more insidious. A very rich patron of the composer wants to present a light hearted musical in the Commedia mode. The Composer wants to present Ariadne as the serious ‘she is saved at the end’ opera it is. Who will win in the battle of financial support versus creative integrity? What we have here is a composer (sung with appropriate anxiety by Miastasha Gonzalez Colon) trying to persuade a Prima Donna (smashingly portrayed in song by Renee Macdonald) to become a light opera performer. By the time we meet Zerbinetta we’re ready for anything. Flirtacious and high powered Hannah Friesen is the Queen of Commedia. She has a cute cadre of male actors/singers who bring their version of commedia to the tragedy of Ariadne. For a few spectacular moments I thought Ms Friesen had transformed into Mozart’s Queen of the NIght. Michael Celentano’s lover boy Bacchus dramatically saved the depressed Ariadne with beautifully sung love lyrics. Love wins the day in this opera. Zerbinetta and the composer may have a fling in the future, but who knows, that may be the subject of another fun and entertaining opera. Director Benjamin Spierman used the stage as if it were a fantasy island visited by a sad dejected and unrequited beauty. Then along comes a boatload of semi crazed actors and singers in crazy costumes who unsuccessfully try to cheer poor Ariadne. Every singer on Lovinger Theatre’s stage was featured as if the audience was on stage. It is the charm of the Bronx Opera Company that the productions are economical on sets but voluminous in their choice of prodigious voices. I can’t wait to see what this home grown diamond will do next. |
| recordings | coupons | publications | classified |