Opera by Richard Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos"

Richard Straus."Ariadne auf Naxos" (it)--one-act Opera with a prologue to a libretto by Hugo von Gofmanstalya. This is partly classical mythology, partly commedia Dell"arte, partly Vienna satire XVlll century, was initially conceived by Strauss and Hofmannsthal as
small gift max Reinhart, great Director, rendered great assistance in the formulation of the earlier operas of Strauss"s" knight of the rose.
In the original version of" Ariadne" was supposed to be a kind of interlude, which entertains its guests Jourdain in Moliere"s Comedy" Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme". (This was supposed to be lower in Moliere"s Comedy scene between the lovers with Boning and Lucille, Turkish ceremony and reducing the Moliere"s play of five acts to two, to insert between Comedy and one-act Opera, a kind of Intermezzo, in which derided preparation for a theatrical performance and a ridiculous order of the master of the house of Monsieur Jourdain, disposed to show visitors at the same time serious Opera and Comedy masks. As evening performance could not be too long, a good half of the Comedy of Moliere was sacrificed in order was executed this interlude Strauss. And still, the performance in this form lasted too long, the effect was not very specific, and the setting is very expensive. She demanded participation in full force not only Opera, but also dramatic troupe.

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the Premiere took place in Berlin, on October 25, 1912, and had no success. In the second edition (1916,Vienna) on Moliere"s Comedy absolutely refused. Instead of the original Intermezzo was composed" the prologue in the theatre, and the Opera itself changed. This new version, which is usually given in our days, and will be described in the following publication. (To be continued)

Richard Strauss

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