UPDATE: This production is now available on DVD from Amazon
This article originally appeared last year:
I really enjoyed the webcast of Strauss's ARIADNE AUF NAXOS from Baden-Baden yesterday. Of course, it's my favorite opera. The production, rather stripped down and done on a basic white set, drew a few boos but the musical aspects of the performance evoked loud and enthusiastic applause, with the singers bowing repeatedly.
Renee Fleming (above) has a beautiful new role as Ariadne; Renee and I go waaaay back, to the day of her first appearance on The Met stage in the Met Auditions Winners Concert in 1988, where her Song to the Moon from RUSALKA marked the emergence of a major voice. Even then, it was the lower octave of Renee's instrument that most intrigued me with it's unforced seductive colouring...a sound that she brings into play skillfully as Ariadne. A few years ago, Renee went off on a tangent of 'vocal expressivity' that was as pointless as it was unappealing; she seems now to have found a better balance - only rarely does a bit of crooning creep in. The voice seems is fine estate and she looks maturely beautiful as Ariadne. I truly hope she will bring this role to The Met.
Robert Dean Smith is an excellent Bacchus, as he was at The Met in May 2011. He sings with clarity and warmth in this taxing music, and he never forces. He - and all of the singers - benefited greatly from the gorgeously supportive conducting of Christian Thielemann and the lovely playing of the musicians - all of whom appeared onstage to bow at the end. A nice touch.
Jane Archibald had a fine success as a tall Zerbinetta, her voice agile and with a nice 'ping' to it. Mezzo Sophie Koch looked like Gustavo Dudamel and sang passionately as the Composer. Eike Wilm Schulte was the stalwart Music Master and Rene Kollo, a former Tristan and Siegfried, gave a star turn as the Major Domo.