"Ariadne auf Naxos".
Cologne, from the new production of the famous
R.Strauss opera
The first "Ariadne"- production of the current director of
the Kölner Oper, Uwe Eric Laufenberg, was launched in 1997. Théâtre Royal de la
Monnaie de Bruxelles, conducted by Antonio Pappano with singers like Susann
Chilcott as"Composer".
in 1998. the production was shown in Straßburg,in 1999 at the
"Komische Oper Berlin",
but with different scenery.
The original version-like in Cologne-was
running in 2002. at "Gran Teatre de Liceu" in Barcelona, 2007. in Tel Aviv and 2008. in Bilbao.
The current production in Cologne
is made on the basis of the Brussels'original version.
After Strauss' big success with"Rosenkavalier" in 1911, grace
to the genius theater-director Max Reinhardt, Strauss wanted to dedicate him a
short 30 minute opera’s for small chamber orchestra, mixed with
mythological protagonists and figures from "commedia dell'arte", serious
drama versus buffo elements performed simultaneously.For the librettist and
famous author Hugo von Hoffmansthal - in contrast to Strauss - it was evident, that
this opus might become much more than a small "Öperchen"
The following 5 years, until 1916, they worked on the final version as "Opera
in one act, including a prologue"(Oper in einem Aufzug, nebst einem
Vorspiel), without the elements of Molière s "Bürger als Edelmann".
The first performance of this final version by Strauss/von
Hoffmannsthal, took place in the middle of a world war, Hoffmannsthal
formulated his hope, to experience after this war, that "the earth is
unbroken for the seed of a new Europe”
(shouldn t we reflect about this visions from nearly 100 years ago?)
But back to Cologne,
the scenery shows a lordly atmosphere - at least: it is the house of
the most wealthy citizen of Vienna
- in the middle of the marble floor just a grand piano.
The music teacher appears, sung by the great bariton Johannes Martin
Kränzle, known as Andrej Bolkonski in
the Kölner production of Prokoffiew s "War and Peace", as "Herzog Blaubart" among others.
The young Composer, from Munich mezzo soprano Regina Richter, with
bright clear voice, desperate about the
weird idea of the authoritarian host, to amuse his guests with a parallel
performed commedia.Very convincing the single speaking role of the butler, who
follows unequivocally, but biting polite the orders of his master.
In the background there are two big windows with long curtains, which
opens in the moment, when the drama/commedia is running on, showing a light
beach with the sea, from where the different actors approach to the main point
in the room.
The contrast between the same single room-of course in different
illuminations-and the delicate moving singers impacts a dynamic vitality, Barbara
Haveman as Ariadne acts and sings convincing credible the mourning, desperate
death longing woman.
The Harlekin performed by the outstanding Croatian bariton Miljenko
Turk, and last not least the Zerbinetta by the Slowakian soprano Anna Palimina,
a very light, brillant voice, acting nor only as antagonist, but with all
musically sensations and colours of emotions of a lively female caracter.
The orchestra under chief conductor Markus Stenz accompanied and supported the stage delicate
with fine chambermusic style as well as the enormously wide range of typic
Strauss' expression and as fazit we can determine:nothing expresses the various
human caleidoscope more direct than music and in this genius case, Richard
Strauss!
The protagonists in “Ariadna”……
Barbara Haveman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG5anU4s9FI
Anna Palimina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHMnrTuw87E
Regina Richter
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Richter
Miljenko Turk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsleXv_KI2Q
Johannes Martin Kränzle
http://www.johannesmartinkraenzle.de/
Markus Stenz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UegD_-Vq7Ls&feature=related