Richard Strauss | Ariadne auf Naxos

Christian Thielemann's sensational return to the Wiener Staatsoper to conduct his first-ever performance of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos.

One of the truly overwhelming successes in recent opera history: Christian Thielemann’s sensational return to the Wiener Staatsoper to work with an ideal cast in an acclaimed production of Ariadne auf Naxos.

Director Sven-Erich Bechtolf “has again delved deeply into music and text”, observed the opera magazine Opernnetz in its rave review of the performance captured here. “In Rolf Glittenberg’s beautiful Jugendstil salon, he is constantly in touch with the heartbeat of the story [...] For Bechtolf it is the subtle development of the characters and their relationships with each other, as well as the work’s delicate irony, that remain of paramount importance. As Ariadne, Soile Isokoski radiates enchanting vocal beauty as she forms endless nuances in one blossoming phrase after another. Daniela Fally sings the gruellingly difficult part of Zerbinetta with great flexibility, acting it with nonchalant coquettishness. Sophie Koch finds a wonderful note of intimacy as the composer. Effortlessly and with heroic brilliance, Johan Botha sings Bacchus, a role that has defeated many a tenor. The smaller roles are also splendidly cast.”

Worldwide release in September 2019
Cat. No.: 109397 (DVD) | 109398 (Blu-ray)

Genre Opera
Recording location Wiener Staatsoper
Production year 2014
Duration 141 mins
Video format 2x DVD / NTSC
Audio format PCM Stereo, Dolby Stereo
Composer Richard Strauss
Orchestra / Band Orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper
Conductor Christian Thielemann
Stage Director Sven-Eric Bechtolf
Soloist Soile Isokoski, Sophie Koch, Jochen Schmeckenbecher, Johan Botha, Daniela Fally, Peter Matić