The Royal Theatre presents a new version of Ariadne auf Naxos
The Madrid coliseum hosts a renewed staging of Richard Strauss's celebrated opera, Ariadne auf Naxos. Under director Àlex Ollé's vision, the mythological drama adopts a modern setting that promises to surprise the audience. 🎭
A mythological island turned into a luxury hotel
Àlex Ollé, co-founder of the collective La Fura dels Baus, reinvents the narrative space. He abandons the deserted island of the original myth to set the plot in an exclusive and decadent hotel establishment. This framework serves to delve deeper into the themes of solitude and the social mask already explored by the composer and his librettist, Hugo von Hofmannsthal.
Key elements of the set design:- The main set evokes the opulent and cold architecture of a high-end hotel.
- An elaborate lighting game generates intimate and dreamlike atmospheres, alternating light and shadow.
- The set design symbolizes the isolation and representation of the characters in a superficial world.
The most intense operatic drama sometimes doesn't need a deserted island, but the presidential suite of a five-star hotel, minibar included.
Vocal and musical prominence
Strauss's work gives essential weight to female voices, something this production reinforces with its predominantly female cast. The score, performed by the theatre's Resident Orchestra under the direction of Cornelius Meister, establishes a constant dialogue with the singers.
Standout figures from the cast:- Brenda Rae embodies Ariadne, tackling the extensive and emotional lament of the protagonist.
- Sabine Devieilhe brings Zerbinetta to life, displaying her virtuosity in a coloratura aria of great technical difficulty.
- The orchestra, with a reduced formation, alternates passages of intense lyricism with others of transparency close to chamber music.
A contemporary reading for a classic
This production not only seeks to update the aesthetic, but also to underscore the relevance of the conflicts posed by the opera. By transferring the action to a contemporary setting, it invites the spectator to reflect on identity and representation in today's society. The combination of a bold scenic concept and a high musical level defines this proposal from the Royal Theatre. 🎶