Curtis Opera Theater's Ariadne auf Naxos

By David Browning, 09 March 2015

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Reviewed at Kimmel Center, Perelman Theater, Philadelphia on 4 March 2015

Strauss R., Ariadne auf Naxos

Curtis Opera Theatre

George Manahan, Conductor

Chas Rader-Shieber, Director

Jacob A. Climer, Costume Designer

David Zinn, Set Designer

Heather Stebbins, The Primadonna (Ariadne)

Ashley Milanese, Zerbinetta

Lauren Eberwein, Composer

Kevin Ray, The Tenor (Bacchus)

Elena Perroni, Echo

Anastasia Sidarova, Naiad

Kirsten MacKinnon, Dryad

Mingjie Lei, Brighella

Roy Hage, Dancing Master

Jean-Michel Richer, Scaramuccio

Johnathan McCullough, Harlequin

Sean Michael Plumb, Music Master

Thomas Shivone, Truffaldino

Dennis Chmelensky, The Major-Domo

Curtis Symphony Orchestra

Albert Herring earns the crown at Curtis Opera Theatre

Cameron Kelsall, 5th March

Benjamin Britten's comic slice of country life proves an ideal choice for the conservatory setting.

****1

Curtis Opera Theatre does Barbiere... and Rossini wins

Susan Gould, 22nd November

In Barbiere, the humor is constantly in the music So this staging was best when the director didn't impose anything but followed and respected the text and especially the music.

***11

Mozart's Don Giovanni overwhelmed by pianos

Susan Gould, 8th March

Curtis Institute singers and orchestra rescue Mozart's Don Giovanni from being overwhelmed by pianos.

**111

Curtis Opera Theatre does Barbiere... and Rossini wins

Susan Gould, 22nd November

In Barbiere, the humor is constantly in the music So this staging was best when the director didn't impose anything but followed and respected the text and especially the music.

***11

Pinchgut takes on Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria

David Larkin, 13th June

Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria is given the Pinchgut treatment, with an abstract staging complementing historically informed music-making under Erin Helyard.

****1

Hasse's Artaserse receives its Australian première

Sandra Bowdler, 29th November

Perhaps Pinchgut Opera's finest production to date, a brave presentation of a classic Baroque opera, little heard in Australia apart from Handel, benefits from the star presence of Vivca Genaux in splendid form.

*****

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David Browning

David Browning is a blogger and opera lover, board member and occasional advisor to some of New York City's small opera companies, and some time singer himself. Although he trained for a career in opera, a life as a technology consultant found him.

Good singing and pop references in Curtis Opera Theater's Ariadne auf Naxos