Search - Richard [1] Strauss, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig :: Richard Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos

An Enjoyable Set With Many Good Qualities

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 12/03/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"ARIADNE AUF NAXOS has to have one of the cleverest plots and some of the most sophisticated music in opera thanks to the ability and creativity of composer Richard Strauss and librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthall. The prologue tells the story of an opera company that plans to perform a serious work but the commandant of the opera house, who is also the financial backer, wants a comic ballet performed instead. The composer wants to quit but can't afford to so a compromise is suggested that will be a combination of the two works "Ariadne" and "The Inconstant Zerbinetta." The second act of the opera is the opera itself.



This particular work requires performers who can both act and sing, and this quality has to come across both when staged and recorded. This set has a good combination of acting that comes across in the prologue and the singing of the opera is phenomenal. The two female leads Jesse Norman and Edita Gruberova who are the Prima Donna/Ariadne and Zerbinetta respectively each bring special qualities to the work. Norman handles large roles beautifully and this is evident especially in "Gibt es kien Hinueber" the finale of the opera. Gruberova's voice is perfectly suited for the role of Zerbinetta but she also had the ability to maneuver Strauss' demanding music. I'm not always certain that Paul Frey's Tenor/Bacchus is as strong as it could be, but in the most demanding parts of his role, there is an intensity that cannot be matched. Julia Varady does a good job as the composer and as far as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is concerned, I'm not sure there's any role he doesn't handle superbly.



Strauss' music, like that of his role model Richard Wagner, is for many an acquired taste and there can be disagreements as to which set is best, whether the post-war casts outshine more modern casts, and which conductor is truest to the score and composer's attention. Getting into that debate could prove futile, but as far as consistency is concerned, this is a solid set with wonderful performers and it's certain to be a favorite for years to come.



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