"Ariadne auf Naxos" Opens Friday Night

Winter Opera Saint Louis continues its fifth season this weekend. After a successful production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s A Grand Night For Singing at the newly opened Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade, the company returns to the operatic repertoire with a production of Richard Strauss’ opera Ariadne auf Naxos to be performed on Friday, January 27th at 8pm and Sunday, January 29th at 3pm at the Saint Louis Woman’s Club at 4600 Lindell Boulevard.

Scored to a libretto by Strauss’ longtime collaborator Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Ariadne auf Naxos combines beautifully the elements of grand opera and commedia dell’arte slapstick. The wealthiest man in Vienna summons two groups of musicians to perform at his home: a burlesque ensemble led by the saucy Zerbinetta and an opera company to perform the serious opera Ariadne auf Naxos, written by a passionate young composer. When both groups arrive, the Major-Domo announces that bothcompanies have to perform simultaneously…or not get paid.

THE SINGERS

(Pictured Clockwise from top Left: Hoffmann-Thomson, Six, Thorne, Heltzel)

Winter Opera Saint Louis presents a cast, crew and orchestra comprised of artists from across the country. Several principal singers make their company debut: Soprano Meredith Hoffmann-Thomson, who has performed with Opera Theatre Saint Louis and Sarasota Opera, sings the role of the opera company’s Prima Donna (later Ariadne). Tenor Scott Six, a 2010 first place winner in the Wagner Division of the Liederkranz Vocal Competition in NYC, sings the role of the Tenor (later Bacchus). Mezzo-soprano Sarah Heltzel, an artist with Seattle Opera, Indianapolis Opera and Syracuse Opera, sings the pants role of the idealistic young Composer. A frequent soloist with Amato Opera and Bronx Opera, Soprano Mary Thorne sings the coloratura-infused role of Zerbinetta. The full cast list can be found by clicking here.

THE CREW

Conductor Timothy Semanik of Ann Arbor Opera and Great Lakes Lyric Opera makes his Winter Opera Saint Louis debut. Stage Director Marie Allyn King, well versed in opera, theatre, musical comedy and cabaret, returns to stage Ariadne after last season’s La Traviata. Nancy Mayo, adjunct professor of in piano and accompanying at Webster University and resident collaborative pianist with Winter Opera Saint Louis, serves as rehearsal pianist. Teresa Doggett, whose designs grace the stages of several theatre companies and Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis, serves as costume designer. Sean Savoie of Washington University’s Performing Arts Department and The MUNY in Forest Park serves as lighting designer.

IN THE MEDIA

Be sure to read Sarah Bryan Miller’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch story on the production including an interview with Meredith Hoffmann-Thomson. Patricia Rice has interviewed Artistic Director Gina Galati on Ariadne auf Naxos and the rest of the season for the St. Louis Beacon.

IF YOU GO...

Ariadne auf Naxos will be performed on Friday, January 27th at 8pm and Sunday, January 29th at 3pm at the St. Louis Woman’s Club located at 4600 Lindell Boulevard (map). The production is sung in German with projected English supertitles.

Why not add a sumptuous dinner with fellow opera patrons to your evening? Chef Leon Dubinovsky prepares a dinner on Friday evening at 6pm before the performance and after the Sunday performance. Dinner cost is $45 per person. Menu can be seen here.

Tickets for performances and the dinner may be purchased by calling Winter Opera Saint Louis at 314-865-0038 or online at http://winteroperastl.tix.com/ For further information on the company, its future performances and special events, visit winteroperastl.org.