Richard Strauss's Ariane à Naxos will be performed in several locations across France, with shows scheduled in Strasbourg, Mulhouse, and Colmar from late October to late November 2026. The opera explores the backstage world of two artistic groups collaborating at the home of a wealthy patron. Directed by Myriam Marzouki, who previously staged Les Fantasticks at the OnR, the production sets the action in Greece at the end of the 1960s. Marzouki employs a technique called mise en abyme, which involves a narrative within a narrative, to create a layered experience that blurs the line between reality and fiction. Conductor Christoph Koncz, who previously led performances of La Traviata and Hansel and Gretel at the OnR, will return to conduct the Orchestre national de Mulhouse. Strauss's music is known for its richness and luminosity, often compared to the clarity and elegance of Mozart's style. Eugénie Joneau, an alumnus of the Opera Studio, will perform the role of Ariane, marking her debut as a dramatic soprano. The cast includes a range of talented performers, each taking on a specific character in the opera's intricate narrative. The production features AJ Glueckert as Bacchus, Julie Roset as Zerbinette, Dorottya Lang as Le Compositeur, Jochen Kupfer as Le Maître de musique, Christian Heller as Le Majordome, Lucas Pauchet as Le Maître à danser, Eduard Ferenczi Gurban as Le Perruquier, Jiawen Li as Un Laquais, James Newby as Arlequin, Aleksandre Khukhushvili as Scaramouche, Antoine Foulon as Truffaldino, Arwen Tanguy as Brighella, Naïma Wanshe as Naïade, Lucy Evans as Dryade, and Jessica Hopkins as Écho. Each performer brings a unique presence to the production, contributing to the rich tapestry of characters that make up Ariane à Naxos.