Customer Reviews for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Ariadne Auf Naxos
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(13 Reviews) 13
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11 of 13(85%)customers would recommend this to a friend.
Ariadne Auf Naxos Fan Reviews - Ticketmaster
Review 1 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Could do a lot better.
New Theatre Oxford @
- Oxford @
- Tue 30 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: Close encounters spaceship lighting effect ant the end. @
Posted 04/12/2010
by Operafan7
Location:Oxford
Ariadne auf Naxos was boring, boring, boring! Some good singing acrobatics but that was all there was to recommend it. The set and costume design was truly uninspired. The only bit I liked was the close encounters lighting effect at the end. The acting was poor, yes, opera singers nowadays are expected to act too! The ever-so-camp make-up guy character was a cheap shot. Couldn't the director think of anything better than that tired old steriotype? I kept wondering why WNO had chosen to stage this opera.
However, as usual, the good old Oxford audience were excited in their applause. The woman sitting next to me had slept all they way through it but applauded energetically like the rest of them. What an inauthentic bunch!
However, as usual, the good old Oxford audience were excited in their applause. The woman sitting next to me had slept all they way through it but applauded energetically like the rest of them. What an inauthentic bunch!
New Theatre Oxford @
- Oxford @
- Tue 30 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: Close encounters spaceship lighting effect ant the end. @
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Review 2 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Ariadne auf naxos
New Theatre Oxford @
- Oxford @
- Tue 30 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: The coloratora singing in the second act - impossible to do, but she did it! @
Posted 02/12/2010
by Fritillary
An outstanding production with superb singing - every part was beautifully performed, right down to the non-singing parts like the camp hairdresser. A brilliant evening and I wish the Welsh National would come to Oxford more frequently - pity about the theatre, though.
New Theatre Oxford @
- Oxford @
- Tue 30 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: The coloratora singing in the second act - impossible to do, but she did it! @
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Review 3 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Fabulous
New Theatre Oxford @
- Oxford @
- Tue 30 Nov 2010 @
Posted 02/12/2010
by Classicalmusiclover
Location:Wiltshire
Ariadne performed by the Welsh National Opera was just fabulous. The opera itself combines serious, moving scenes with light hearted comedy. The set and performance were outstanding - the depth and quality of the singing and acting matched by the wonderful music and orchestra.
Straight to the top of my favourite opera list
Straight to the top of my favourite opera list
New Theatre Oxford @
- Oxford @
- Tue 30 Nov 2010 @
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Review 4 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Ariadne auf Naxos
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: More than one, but the comic dance to cheer up Ariadne was fun. @
Posted 15/11/2010
by Autolycus
Location:Chester
This is a difficult opera to stage, but Welsh Opera produced it very well. The only glitch was that the (important) subtitles seemed not always to be working.
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: More than one, but the comic dance to cheer up Ariadne was fun. @
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Review 5 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Ariadne at Liverpool
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: It has to be Zerbinetta's song with the Clowns - a scene-stealer and magnificently achieved by Gillian Keith. @
Posted 06/11/2010
by Lohengrin
Whilst not of the standard of Rosenkavalier, Salome or Elektra, Strauss' opera Ariadne auf Naxos is worth a visit when it is performed, and the Welsh National Opera's production was well worth it.
First honours must go to the orchestra under their Conductor Lothar Koenigs, who played a complex and broad work superbly well.
The Prologue was patchy with the usually magnificent voice of Sarah Connolly, as the Composer, showing signs of being tired and wobbly as she sustained notes. The overall ensemble singing was very good and as the Company settle into their dressing rooms and prepare for the performance, there was a great deal of busy activity to keep the audience watching and interested - but, perhaps a bit too busy in an overly cluttered set. Unfortunately, the stupid camp antics of the Wigmaker and the games with stage sausages were, quite simply, tacky!
Next in their totally contrasting roles Gillian Keith as Zerbinetta and Orla Boylan as Ariadne were excellent, with Keith being every inch the tease and scene-stealing soprano especially during her long Masquerade song with the Clowns. Boylan was suitably pained throughout her elongated duet with Bacchus while exasperated at the shenanigans going on around her.
Mention must be made of the three Nymphs who were marvellous, appearing like the ominous presence of the Greek Tragedy Chorus they were meant to be and singing both individually and together in glorious form.
Whilst the set for the Prologue was cluttered, the spaciousness for the Opera within the opera was soft in tone and evocative. However, during the transformation at the end when the set slowly ascends the mood was not helped when one of the tabs got stuck and jerked its way heavenwards against the serenity of the music beneath! (Basic Stage Management like this should not be an issue at a theatre of this standard!)
Overall this was a very good evening and rewarding to hear Strauss sung and played so well, but unfortunately there were a few distractions in the production and presentation that were unnecessary and made the performance memorable - but for the wrong reason!
PS. A note to the theatre management, the seat and arm of my place were broken, which didn't help for my comfort
First honours must go to the orchestra under their Conductor Lothar Koenigs, who played a complex and broad work superbly well.
The Prologue was patchy with the usually magnificent voice of Sarah Connolly, as the Composer, showing signs of being tired and wobbly as she sustained notes. The overall ensemble singing was very good and as the Company settle into their dressing rooms and prepare for the performance, there was a great deal of busy activity to keep the audience watching and interested - but, perhaps a bit too busy in an overly cluttered set. Unfortunately, the stupid camp antics of the Wigmaker and the games with stage sausages were, quite simply, tacky!
Next in their totally contrasting roles Gillian Keith as Zerbinetta and Orla Boylan as Ariadne were excellent, with Keith being every inch the tease and scene-stealing soprano especially during her long Masquerade song with the Clowns. Boylan was suitably pained throughout her elongated duet with Bacchus while exasperated at the shenanigans going on around her.
Mention must be made of the three Nymphs who were marvellous, appearing like the ominous presence of the Greek Tragedy Chorus they were meant to be and singing both individually and together in glorious form.
Whilst the set for the Prologue was cluttered, the spaciousness for the Opera within the opera was soft in tone and evocative. However, during the transformation at the end when the set slowly ascends the mood was not helped when one of the tabs got stuck and jerked its way heavenwards against the serenity of the music beneath! (Basic Stage Management like this should not be an issue at a theatre of this standard!)
Overall this was a very good evening and rewarding to hear Strauss sung and played so well, but unfortunately there were a few distractions in the production and presentation that were unnecessary and made the performance memorable - but for the wrong reason!
PS. A note to the theatre management, the seat and arm of my place were broken, which didn't help for my comfort
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: It has to be Zerbinetta's song with the Clowns - a scene-stealer and magnificently achieved by Gillian Keith. @
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Review 6 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Not WNO's best night
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: Transformation at the end. @
Posted 05/11/2010
by Trains
Location:Wirral
Ariadne auf Naxos is a delight as an opera, but the WNO production, for me, did not serve R. Strauss well. Some beautiful singing and an very good performance from the orchestra under Lother Loenigs. However serious miscasting of Ricardo Tamura who,
physically, was anything but the beautiful young god Bacchus, even though his voice was good. I thought the scenery and costumes were stylishly tatty and got in the way of the beautiful music . The prologue was confusingly busy and the Opera boringly static.
physically, was anything but the beautiful young god Bacchus, even though his voice was good. I thought the scenery and costumes were stylishly tatty and got in the way of the beautiful music . The prologue was confusingly busy and the Opera boringly static.
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: Transformation at the end. @
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Review 7 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Ariadne perfection
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: The last half hour was like bathing in melted chocolate. @
Posted 05/11/2010
by Operaman
Location:Wirral, Cheshire
Once again, the Orchestra of the Welsh Opera demonstrated that they are the best opera orchestra in the UK, bar non. Lucious string sound, even from just six violins!!
A massively over-elaborate set in the Prelude didn't take away from the decadence and seediness of most theatres when seen from backstage - the glamour is only ever skin-deep.
Sarah Connolly shone as the Composer.
Why, though, would anyone pay (quite a lot of) good money to sit behind me, talk and unwrap crinkly sweetpapers? Bizarre.
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: The last half hour was like bathing in melted chocolate. @
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Review 8 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
A great performance with a single flaw
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: Any moment during the second half: probably the breathtaking finale. @
Posted 05/11/2010
by Hildegard
Location:Merseyside
Thanks to the Welsh National Opera for bringing us Ariadne auf Naxos, Strauss's [relatively] modern masterpiece which will never attract the crowds drawn by warhorses such as Fidelio and The Magic Flute. This opera has magical parts for women: the Composer, Ariadne and the coloratura Zerbinetta: three contrasting characters, all magnificiently sung. Thanks also to the orchestra and the very inspiring conductor.
As usual, The Empire failed to come up to scratch. I felt sorry for both audience and cast when the surtitles failed during the Prologue. Not that they'd been much good. We in the front stalls had to crane our necks - and in full price seats! Less importantly, the wine in the bar is overpriced, and served in enormous plastic tumblers. Why can't they take a leaf out of other venues' books and use plastic wine glasses? But at least, this time, the stage staff kept the dry ice in check, and the fire alarm didn't ring halfway through the performance, as it did in Swan Lake, when we were turned on to the street.
Liverpool Empire Theatre @
- Liverpool @
- Wed 3 Nov 2010 @
Favourite moment: Any moment during the second half: probably the breathtaking finale. @
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Review 9 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
See this. It is fun!
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: Comedic group on Naxos @
Posted 22/10/2010
by MarionT
A beautiful production of a witty opera which I hadn't seen before. Orchestra fab. Principals wonderful.
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: Comedic group on Naxos @
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Review 10 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Ariadne auf Naxos is delightful
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: Entrance of Bacchus @
Posted 22/10/2010
by bromsgrovecrone
Location:SN7 7JQ
Beautifully staged and sung; a blend of romance, sadness and comedy. Well worth seeing
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: Entrance of Bacchus @
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Review 11 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Ariadne auf Naxos was very good
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: The commedienne was a superb performance and amusing @
Posted 21/10/2010
by Margret
Location:Gloucestershire
Excellent production as a whole - singers , orchestra, stage design, etc excellent. It was well balanced with everything melding to gether.
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: The commedienne was a superb performance and amusing @
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Review 12 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Ariadne auf Naxos- a strong production
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: wouldn't choose any particular moment @
Posted 21/10/2010
by Theseus
Location:Dorset
Lovely voices, particularly Ariadne. One of the nymphs (the slim one!) was a touch shrill.
Loved the clowns in the first half, but felt they went on too long in the second.
Would strongly recommend this production
Loved the clowns in the first half, but felt they went on too long in the second.
Would strongly recommend this production
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: wouldn't choose any particular moment @
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Review 13 for Ariadne Auf Naxos
Ariadne to remember
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: when the rich man's representative announces that he wants to combine the opera with an Italian farce. @
Posted 21/10/2010
by herbenu
Location:Bristol
A first class production in all respects - music, singing, acting, decor. How refreshing to see a director actually doing the opera, as opposed to imposing ludicrous directorial layers of 'interpretation' as has been the case on previous occasions. It was updated from 1916 to the present but in a way that did not interfere with the meaning or style of the piece.
This is a very interesting work by a highly original composer and legendary writer. Thematically and musically, I felt it put a new perspective on Wagner's German romanticism and is refreshingly human in its abiliity to not take itself too seriously. In fact it is very funny as well as moving and poignant. Recommended
This is a very interesting work by a highly original composer and legendary writer. Thematically and musically, I felt it put a new perspective on Wagner's German romanticism and is refreshingly human in its abiliity to not take itself too seriously. In fact it is very funny as well as moving and poignant. Recommended
Bristol Hippodrome @
- Bristol @
- Tue 19 Oct 2010 @
Favourite moment: when the rich man's representative announces that he wants to combine the opera with an Italian farce. @
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