Ariane (Massenet)

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Opera dates
Title: Ariane
Poster of the premiere

Poster of the premiere

Shape: Opera in five acts
Original language: French
Music: Jules Massenet
Libretto : Catulle Mendès
Literary source: Greek mythology
Premiere: October 31, 1906
Place of premiere: Palais Garnier
Place and time of the action: Naxos , in mythical prehistory
people

Ariane is an opera in five acts by Jules Massenet (music) with a libretto by Catulle Mendès . The work is based on the figure of Ariadne from Greek mythology . There are other operas on the same theme, the best known being Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss .

Work history

The premiere of Massenet's Ariana took place on October 31, 1906 at the Palais Garnier in Paris . The interpreter of the title role was Lucienne Bréval . The piece had been shown 75 times by the end of 1961. However, the opera never became part of the usual operatic repertoire. The work is only rarely performed. In 2007 there was a production at the Massenet Festival in St. Etienne , of which there is also a recording.

action

The plot is based on the Greek mythology about Theseus and the sisters Ariadne and Phaidra. Both sisters love Theseus, but he chooses Phaidra. When she is slain by the falling statue of Adonis , Ariadne goes to the underworld to ask Persephone for the resurrection of her sister and she actually manages to have Phaidra return to earth. Theseus now has to choose between the sisters again, decides again for Phaidra and leaves Ariadne on the banks of Naxos, who is desperately lured into the sea by the voices of the waving sirens .

Sound carrier

  • 2007: Cecile Perrin (Ariane), Barbara Ducret (Phèdre), Luca Lombardo (Thésée), Anne Pareuil (Perséphone), Ciril Rovery (Périthoüs); Orchester Symphonique et Choeurs Lyriques de Saint Etienne; Conductor: Laurent Campellone; (JMI)

Individual evidence

  1. artlyriquefr.fr
  2. ^ Opera Lounge: Le Grand Repertoire

Web links