January 20, 2014 – Virginia Opera, The Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, starts the New Year with a hilarious new production of Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos.” With Director Sam Helfrich, known to Virginia Opera audiences for his recent highly acclaimed productions of “Orphée” (2011-12) and “A Streetcar Named Desire” (2012-13), Helfrich brings his signature style to this comic tour de force that will leave you laughing in the aisles. With Conductor Garrett Keast in his company debut, bringing his mastery of German Opera for our audiences to enjoy, and Andrew Lieberman’s sets, whose set design for “Orphée” wowed audiences two years ago, this production plays the perfect host to the comic action.
“Ariadne aux Naxos” opens Friday, February 7, 2014 at Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, Va., followed by additional performances in Norfolk, Fairfax and Richmond, Va. Tickets start at just $19 and are available on the Virginia Opera website at www.vaopera.org, or, for personalized seating assistance, please call the Box Office at 866.OPERA.VA.
“Ariadne auf Naxos” is an opera within an opera and unique in the genre. The premise involves a rich Viennese art patron the Comedy Troupe and Classical Opera Company he hired to perform for his dinner party. When the meal runs late he demands they perform together so everyone can be finished in time for the fireworks – the real attraction of the evening! Strauss mixes comedy and drama with a masterful touch as he explores the meaning of opera, the way the art form is viewed by audiences and sponsors and how the rest of the world sometimes “pokes fun” at opera.
Virginia Opera keeps the jokes coming fast and furiously, performing the first half of the opera, known as the “Prologue,” in English so audiences can appreciate all the fun as the comedy is established in what feels like a very modern TV sitcom. What with many eccentric characters coming and going as well as sight-gags, set gags and costume tomfoolery, this is perhaps the funniest opera audiences will have ever experienced on Virginia Opera stages. Then, during the second act, which Strauss refers to as “The Opera,” sung in German with English Supertitles, audiences will see how the craziness unfolds as the story line bounces back and forth from the dramatic story of Ariadne – abandoned by her lover on the island of Naxos – to the hilarious wit of the comedy troupe as they try to teach her something about love.
“Though not one of the most well-known opera in the repertory,” says President and CEO Russell P. Allen, “this production brings to Virginia stages the finest talent in opera both on stage and behind-the-scenes. Filled with a gorgeous score of lush music, hilarious comedy, and fine performances, this is a production not to be missed.”
Sam Helfrich describes this production as “totally original and very fun. People will be on their feet at the end of the performance. It is the kind of production that will leave people being very glad they that attended.”
The Cast
Metropolitan Opera soprano and Grammy nominee, Audrey Luna, who performs the role of the Comedy Troupe star Zerbinetta, makes her Virginia Opera debut. In prior productions nation-wide, she has received critical praise and acclaim. Christina Pier, in the role of Ariadne in “the Opera” and the diva in “the Prologue,” also in her Virginia Opera debut, is the perfect foil for Zerbietta and provides for comic “sparring” and humorous scenes as the two art forms come into conflict.
The love interest, Bacchus, sung by tenor Robert Chafin, and the comic role of the Composer, sung by mezzo-soprano Stephanie Lauricella, round out the leading roles, both also making their Virginia Opera debuts, and provide both some of the funniest scenes and beautifully sung scenes in the opera.
Supporting the lead roles, Virginia Opera welcomes back audience favorite Jake Gardner as the Music Teacher, who has been with the company since the company’s beginning and recently returned to Virginia Opera stages in “Die Fledermaus” (2012-13). Also returning to Virginia Opera is Christopher Burchett as Harlekin, who made his company debut in that same production of “Fledermaus.” Emerging Artists round out the cast and return to the Virginia Opera Mainstage following successes earlier this season including Amanda Opuszynski (Nanetta in “Falstaff”), Matt Scollin (Speaker in “The Magic Flute”) Courtney Miller (Meg Page in “Falstaff”) and Ryan Connelly (Dr. Caius in “Falstaff” andMonastatos in “The Magic Flute”).
Performance Details and Ticket Information
The first act of “Ariadne auf Naxos” will be performed in English and the second act in German with English supertitles. Each performance will feature a free 30-minute pre-opera discussion by Virginia Opera’s Dr. Glenn “Dr. Opera” Winters. Tickets start at just $19 and are available at www.vaopera.org or by calling 866.OPERA.VA. The production opens on Friday, February 7, 2014 in Norfolk, Va., and is scheduled to appear in three Virginia Opera venues as follows:
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Harrison Opera House Norfolk, Va. 757.623.1223 (Southside) 757.877.2550 (Peninsula) www.vaopera.org
Fri., Feb 7, 2014 8:00 p.m. Sun., Feb 9, 2014, 2:30 p.m. Tue., Feb 11, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
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Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage Richmond, Va. 800.514.3849 www.etix.com
Fri., Feb 21, 2014, 8:00 p.m. Sun., Feb 23, 2014, 2:30 p.m. |
George Mason University Center for the Arts Fairfax, Va. 888.945.2468 cfa.gmu.edu/tickets
Fri., Feb 14, 2014, 8:00 p.m. Sun., Feb. 16, 2014, 2:00 p.m.
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Student Tickets
Virginia Opera will offer a special Student Night at the Opera performance for “Ariadne aux Naxos”
in Norfolk, Va. on Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Student Night at the Opera allows students and
chaperones to experience the power of live opera, with unparalleled access at reduced ticket prices, in order to broaden appreciation for cultural arts in our community. Visit www.vaopera.org for more details about Student Night at the Opera and how to purchase tickets.
For regularly-scheduled performances in Norfolk and Richmond, students may receive $15 rush tickets. Tickets must be purchased the day of the performance through the Box Office. Discounts are intended for full-time students only and valid student identification is required.
About Virginia Opera
Virginia Opera is in its 39th year of operation. The Company has a working budget of $5 million with over 30 mainstage performances in multiple markets, reaching nearly 50,000 attendees each season. Additionally, the Opera’s Education and Outreach Program reaches another 100,000 students of all ages. In March of 1994 Virginia Opera was named The Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia in recognition of the organization’s contribution to the Commonwealth and to the world of opera.