from Opera of the German opera Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss

Libretto: Hugo von Hofmannsthal

Role: Harlequin, a member of a commedia dell'arte group

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: on stage during an operatic performance of "Ariadne auf Naxos", a wealthy Viennese house, Vienna, Austria, 18th century

Synopsis: Ariadne's despair is great because she has been abandoned by her love Theseus. The Harlequin tries to cheer her up, saying that she should give life another chance, since life's joys can really be surprising.

from Prologue of the German opera Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss

Libretto: Hugo von Hofmannsthal

Role: The Composer, the composer of the opera being performed within this opera

Voice Part: mezzo-soprano

Setting: backstage before an operatic performance, a wealthy Viennese house, Vienna, Austria, 18th century

Synopsis: Immediately before the performance of his opera begins, the Composer declares his fervent belief in the great art of music.

from Opera of the German opera Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss

Libretto: Hugo von Hofmannsthal

Role: The Prima Donna/Ariadne, a soprano who performs the role of Ariadne in the opera within this opera

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic soprano

Setting: on stage during an operatic performance of "Ariadne auf Naxos", a wealthy Viennese house, Vienna, Austria, 18th century

Synopsis: In full despair from being left by her love Theseus, Ariadne describes the land of death to which she will go to escape her pains. She welcomes death, thinking that in the land of death she will find everything that she has been denied in life.

from Opera of the German opera Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss

Libretto: Hugo von Hofmannsthal

Role: Zerbinetta, a member of a commedia dell'arte group

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: on stage during an operatic performance of "Ariadne auf Naxos", a wealthy Viennese house, Vienna, Austria, 18th century

Synopsis: Zerbinetta decides to try once more to overcome Ariadne's despair. She speaks with her directly, saying that a woman must take responsibility for her own life and cannot be expected to remain faithful to one man for her entire life. Gaily and quite floridly she describes her romantic adventures, going through lists of names of men she enjoyed and how she let them seduce her.