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AVA Opera Theater on WRTI 90.1: A Rarely Heard Opera by Richard Strauss, March 4 at 3 PM

Get set for an Academy of Vocal Arts Opera broadcast of Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos! The work explores the competition between high and low art for the public’s attention. A show within a show, two troupes of musicians perform two shows at the same time to create the love story of Ariadne and the god Bacchus.

The opera combines a serious classical story of Ariadne abandoned by Theseus on Naxos with a comedy troupe attempting to cheer her up. The opera features one of the most difficult and exacting soprano arias of the 20th centur:  Zerbinetta’s "Großmächtige Prinzessin."

The broadcast was recorded in performances earlier this week.

Conductor David Aronson makes his Philadelphia debut conducting the AVA Opera Orchestra. Mr. Aronson, who teaches conducting and opera coaching at Vienna Conservatory Private University, made his conducting debut with Vienna State Opera in 2000, having been on the music staff since 1991.

CAST:

Major Domo: Roy A. Wilbur

Music Master: Timothy Renner

Composer: Hannah Ludwig/Rebecca Gulinello

Tenor/Bacchus: John Matthew Myers

Officer: Lukasz Zientarski

Dance Master/Brighella: Oliver Sewell

Wig Maker: Anthony Whitson-Martini

Harlequin: Daniel Gallegos/Anthony Whitson-Martini

Lackey: Daniel Gallegos

Zerbinetta: Alexandra Nowakowski/Meryl Dominguez

Naiad: Meryl Dominguez/Alexandra Nowakowski

Prima Donna/Ariadne: Claire de Monteil

Scaramuccio: Matthew White

Truffaldino: Brent Michael Smith

Echo: Alexandra Razskazoff

Dryad: Gabriela Flores

Don't miss this rarely performed work, Sunday, March 4th at 3 pm on WRTI 90.1.