A muddled new Ariadne auf Naxos in Prague

Cornelia Beskow (Ariadne)

Arnheiður Eiríksdóttir (Composer)

Jan Hnyk (Truffaldino), Daniel Matoušek (Brighella), Ziyi Dai (Zerbinetta), Lukáš Bařák (Harlekin)

Pavol Kubáň (Music Master), Dagmar Pecková (Major-Domo), Jaroslav Březina (Dancing Master)

Magnus Vigilius (Bacchus)

By Frank Kuznik, 18 February 2024

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“more like a study of clinical depression with not-so-comic interludes”

Reviewed at Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo), Prague on 16 February 2024

Strauss R., Ariadne auf Naxos

Prague National Theatre Opera

Robert Jindra, Conductor

Sláva Daubnerová, Director

Lucia Škandíková, Set Designer

Tereza Kopecká, Costume Designer

Daniel Tesař, Lighting Designer

Prague National Theatre Orchestra

Dominik Žižka, Video

Cornelia Beskow, The Primadonna (Ariadne)

Ziyi Dai, Zerbinetta

Arnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Composer

Magnus Vigilius, The Tenor (Bacchus)

Yukiko Kinjo, Echo

Lenka Máčiková, Naiad

Michaela Zajmi, Dryad

Daniel Matoušek, Brighella

Jaroslav Březina, Dancing Master

Raman Hasymau, Officer

Josef Moravec, Scaramuccio

Lukáš Bařák, Harlequin

Roman Hoza, Harlequin

Pavol Kubáň, Music Master

Radek Martinec, Wigmaker

Martin Matoušek, Lackey

Jan Hnyk, Truffaldino

Dagmar Pecková, The Major-Domo

Trojan’s Carousel: a magical night of dreams come true in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 23rd April

A vintage opera at the National Theatre offers charming adventures for children and musical sophistication for adults.

*****

Parsifal reconsidered: A provocative improvisation in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 26th March

Timo Riihonen and Ester Pavlů stand out in a strong cast which carries Andreas Homoki's revised version of Wagner's final opera.

****1

Musically excellent Bartered Bride in Prague marred by meta production

Dominic Lowe, 4th March

Smetana in Prague is never likely to be less than a delight, and the National Theatre assembles a fine cast for a revival of Alice Nellis' production of his greatest opera.

****1

In Prague, a high-minded new Rheingold never gets off the ground

Frank Kuznik, 12th February

Sláva Daubnerová's contemporary treatment of the Ring opener at the Prague National Theatre is socially ambitious but artistically disappointing.

***11

Dido and Aeneas in Prague: wide-eyed wonderment

David Karlin, 15th January

Alice Nellis' staging of Purcell's masterpiece is both historically faithful and innovatively modern. With Collegium 1704 providing the early music chops, it's a rare treat.

*****

Revival of Ostrčil’s The Legend of Erin misses the mark in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 16th October

An ambitious effort to honor hometown hero Otakar Ostrčil sags under its own weight at the Prague National Theatre.

***11

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.