Ariadne auf Naxos
also Ariadne on Naxos
opera
Composer Richard Strauss
Librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Synopsis
A rich Viennese patron orders his hired Composer's serious new opera performed simultaneously with a comic troupe's farce, so fireworks can start on schedule. The devastated Composer must fold Zerbinetta and her clowns into his tragedy of Ariadne, deserted on Naxos and mourning her lost love.
Versions
Key facts
- Premiere
- 25 October 1912
- Language
- German (de)
- Setting
- The house of Monsieur Jourdain in Paris, about 1670, the opera given as the entertainment that closes Molière's Le Bourgeois gentilhomme. The opera itself is set on Naxos, in the mythical past.
What's different
The original version, written as an entertainment to follow a German stage adaptation of Molière's Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, for which Strauss also wrote incidental music. Played this way only once; the combination proved unworkable in the theatre, being neither a manageable play nor an independent opera, which is what led to the 1916 revision. The synopsis on this page describes the 1916 Prologue, the patron forcing the Composer and Zerbinetta's troupe together; this version had no such scene, the Molière play doing that work instead.
Dramatis personae
| Role | Voice | Created by |
|---|---|---|
| Ariadne A princess, abandoned by Theseus. | soprano | Maria Jeritza |
| Bacchus A god, fleeing the sorceress Circe. | tenor | Hermann Jadlowker |
| Naiad One of the three nymphs who keep Ariadne company on Naxos. | soprano | Margarethe Junker-Burchardt |
| Dryad One of the three nymphs who keep Ariadne company on Naxos. | contralto | Sigrid Onégin |
| Echo One of the three nymphs who keep Ariadne company on Naxos. | soprano (soubrette) | Erna Ellmenreich |
| Zerbinetta Leader of the comedians' troupe. | soprano (coloratura) | Margarethe Siems |
| Harlekin One of Zerbinetta's four comedians. | baritone | Albin Swoboda Jr. |
| Scaramuccio One of Zerbinetta's four comedians. | tenor | Georg Maeder |
| Truffaldin One of Zerbinetta's four comedians. | bass | Reinhold Fritz |
| Brighella One of Zerbinetta's four comedians. | tenor | Franz Schwerdt |
Key facts
- Premiere
- 4 October 1916, k.k. Hof-Operntheater, Vienna
- Language
- German (de)
- Setting
- The house of the richest man in Vienna, in the first half of the eighteenth century. The opera his guests are given is set on Naxos, in the mythical past.
What's different
Hofmannsthal replaced the Molière play with a newly written sung Prologue, set backstage before the same performance, making the work self-contained. This is the version almost always heard today.
Dramatis personae
| Role | Voice | Created by |
|---|---|---|
| Der Haushofmeister Steward of the household staging the evening's entertainment. | spoken role | Anton August Stoll |
| Ein Musiklehrer The Composer's teacher. | baritone | Hans Duhan |
| Der Komponist Composer of the opera seria being staged that evening. | soprano | Lotte Lehmann |
| Ein Offizier An officer. | tenor | Anton Arnold |
| Ein Tanzmeister A dancing master. | tenor | Georg Maikl |
| Ein Perückenmacher A wig maker. | bass | Gerhard Stehmann |
| Ein Lakai A lackey. | bass | Viktor Madin |
| Ariadne A princess, abandoned by Theseus. | soprano | Maria Jeritza |
| Bacchus A god, fleeing the sorceress Circe. | tenor | Béla Környey |
| Naiad One of the three nymphs who keep Ariadne company on Naxos. | soprano | Charlotte Dahmen |
| Dryad One of the three nymphs who keep Ariadne company on Naxos. | contralto | Hermine Kittel |
| Echo One of the three nymphs who keep Ariadne company on Naxos. | soprano (soubrette) | Carola Jovanovic |
| Zerbinetta Leader of the comedians' troupe. | soprano (coloratura) | Selma Kurz |
| Harlekin One of Zerbinetta's four comedians. | baritone | Hans Duhan |
| Scaramuccio One of Zerbinetta's four comedians. | tenor | Hermann Gallos |
| Truffaldin One of Zerbinetta's four comedians. | bass | Julij Betetto |
| Brighella One of Zerbinetta's four comedians. | tenor | Adolph Nemeth |
Source
Original libretto.
Written from
- Osborne, C. (1988) The Complete Operas of Richard Strauss: A Critical Guide. London: Michael O'Mara Books, pp. 92-108.
- Strauss, R. (1916) Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60. Berlin: Adolph Fürstner. (Accessed: August 2026).
- opera-guide.ch (2026) Ariadne auf Naxos: Synopsis. (Accessed: August 2026).
- Wikipedia (2026) Ariadne auf Naxos. (Accessed: August 2026).