Strauss' comedic 'Ariadne' a delight

Opera within an opera ends Wolf Trap season

Tim Smith | Music

August 19, 2008

If the Three Stooges stumbled into an oh-so-serious performance of Hamlet and carried on as usual alongside the uncomprehending actors, the result would be something akin to Ariadne auf Naxos, the musically and theatrically brilliant work by Richard Strauss that serves as an invigorating finale to Wolf Trap Opera's season.

This company, devoted to the honing of emerging artists, routinely delivers smart, absorbing productions, among the most consistently satisfying to be found in the region. With Ariadne, close on the heels of this summer's snappy take on Verdi's neglected Un giorno di Regno and vivid treatment of Handel's Alcina, the ensemble has hit yet another peak, surely one of its highest yet. Snaring a ticket to tonight's final performance ought to be a priority for any opera fan who missed the first two. (read more)
From today's Baltimore Sun

OPERA: 'Ariadne' a joyful jumble

Wackiness explodes at Wolf Trap-The Washington Times

T.L. Ponick

Monday, August 18, 2008

With shabby-chic sets by Erhard Rom, witty direction by Thaddeus Strassberger and sharp conducting by Timothy Long, the Wolf Trap Opera Company's wacky new production of Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos" ("Ariadne on Naxos") is an engaging, theatrically over-the-top showcase for the company's incredibly talented young singers.

High Notes Abound in 'Ariadne'

By Robert Battey
Special to The Washington Post
Monday, August 18, 2008; C05

The Wolf Trap Opera Company's final staged offering of the season -- Richard Strauss's curious opera-within-an-opera "Ariadne auf Naxos" -- is a near-triumph. The company's remarkable young artists presented a vocal feast at Friday's opening at the Barns.

We opened the last opera of the season last night to a sold out and enthusiastic crowd at The Barns. Bravo to us!

Prologue:

Oper: Photos:Erhard Rom
Director – Thaddeus Strassberger
Scenic Design – Erhard Rom
Costume Design – Mattie Ullrich
Lighting Design – Robert H. Grimes

With two operas down and one to go, here are some photos taken by Erhard Rom of Handel's "Alcina". Follow this link to a nice review on Ionarts blog.
Director – Eric Einhorn
Scenic Design – Erhard Rom
Costume Design – Mattie Ullrich
Lighting Design – Robert H. Grimes

We had a great time on Saturday playing music and generally carrying on. I must say, we didn't sound half bad!

Just put this up on the wall for "Live at Wolf Trap; Vol 2"

One would think that after opening 55 operas at Wolf Trap that I would become jaded. It is simply not the case. We opened Verdi's "Un Giorno di Regno"  on Friday the 13th and I must say the old excitement is still there. We had a wonderful creative team and crew and it was a pleasure to get this one launched.

Here are some photos that Erhard Rom (Scenic Designer) took from the final dress to enjoy.
Director: Kristine McIntyre
Scenic Design: Erhard Rom
Costume Design: Carol Baily
Lighting Design: Robert H. Grimes

All the more reason to hail Wolf Trap. "King for a Day," the early Verdi opera that opened the company's season on Friday night, is a rare exception to the rule not only of most opera with young singers, but most opera, period: a production that gets it exactly right.-

By Anne Midgette

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 16, 2008

As usual, I had opera rehearsals on my birthday. After Wednesday night's final dress for Verdi's "Un Giorno di Regno (King For a Day)" the entire cast broke into "Happy Birthday". Wow! I was knocked out.

Live at The Barns Vol. 2 picked up a Wammie for Best Roots Rock Recording this past Sunday. Gave me a lift while I am fighting the dread flu.

THE GRANDSONS: Live at the Barns - The Legendary Wolf Trap Recordings, Volume Two,  has garnered two  Washington Area Music Association nominations: Best Roots Rock Album and Album of The Year. This project was recorded and mixed entirely at The Barns at Wolf Trap and The Center for Education at Wolf Trap. The CD is available at Wolf Trap's web site, as well as The Grandsons' site. 

"How does the second installment of the Grandsons' 'Legendary Wolf Trap Recordings' differ from the first? Only the names change, really. A fresh and typically eclectic array of songwriters contribute to the set list this time around, but otherwise the performances are dependably lively, rootsy and affectionate." Mike Joyce, The Washington Post

I have been having great fun with the latest Ubuntu Linux release. Version 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" is the first of many distros that I have played with over the years that really works as a Windoze replacement. It recognized all my hardware (Dell xps m140 laptop) and is highly configurable. Cool!