Munich Opera revives Ariadne auf Naxos
The Munich Opera has brought back Robert Carsen's 2008 production of Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos, previously staged in 2015 with Kirill Petrenko conducting. This revival takes place amid the opera house's focus on its major autumn project, the upcoming premiere of Siegfried.Affordable ticket pricing
The performance offers an affordable price of 100 € in the first category, which is rare for a major opera house. This pricing aims to make high-quality opera more accessible to a broader audience.Cast and conducting
The cast includes Sabine Devieilhe as Zerbinetta, Christian Rieger as Laquais, and Konstantin Krimmel as Harlequin, with Robin Ticciati conducting. Ticciati, the musical director of the Glyndebourne Festival since 2014, faced challenges in balancing the pit and stage, particularly in the prologue.Performance evaluations
Martin Gantner and Tansel Akzeybek, the two company leaders, performed well, while Irene Roberts as the composer was less convincing. Anja Kampe as Ariadne and Brian Jagde as Theseus managed their demanding roles effectively, though both lacked the radiance and finesse that would elevate their performances.Zerbinetta's portrayal
Sabine Devieilhe's portrayal of Zerbinetta was praised for its virtuosity and projection. However, she was compared to Natalie Dessay and Sarah Aristidou for lacking the same level of insolent virtuosity and textual intelligence.Staging and design
Robert Carsen's staging, now 18 years old, retained its clarity and fluidity. However, the director has faced criticism for recent productions lacking the revelatory force of his earlier works. The prologue's theatrical play was noted as irresistible, and the visual design by Peter Pabst remained seductive.Overall assessment
While the revival did not match the miraculous character of the premiere under Kent Nagano's direction, the 2026 production provided a satisfactory musical and theatrical experience.
