Ariadne auf Naxos
Sparks fly in an uproarious tussle for centre stage in Strauss' whimsical comedy.
Performance Dates
Ticket prices
19, 26 July; 1, 9 August
Stalls: £195 – £280
Foyer Circle: £260 – £295
Circle: £195 – £280
Upper Circle: £165 – £195
22 July; 6, 12, 16, 23, 29 August
Stalls: £180 – £265
Foyer Circle: £235 – £280
Circle: £180 – £265
Upper Circle: £145 – £180
3, 21, 26 August
Stalls: £165 – £245
Foyer Circle: £215 – £265
Circle: £165 – £245
Upper Circle: £130 – £165
The richest man in Vienna has commissioned an evening’s entertainment. But when a tragic opera and a comedy troupe are forced to share the same stage, all bets are off. Strauss’ opera-within-an-opera is part farce, part dream-like fantasy, set to one of his most luscious scores.
Laurent Pelly returns to Glyndebourne to direct this new staging, with Robin Ticciati conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The cast includes Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Ariadne, Samantha Hankey as Composer and David Butt Philip as Bacchus. Alina Wunderlin returns to perform another key coloratura role as Zerbinetta, after impressing as Queen of the Night in Festival 24. See full cast and creative team details here.
To find out more about Ariadne auf Naxos including key plot points, popular arias and moments to look out for: read our Introducing Ariadne auf Naxos blog.
Sung in German with English supertitles.
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Get a feel for the music with this Organ Room Session featuring Lise Davidsen performing ‘Es gibt ein Reich’ from Ariadne auf Naxos:
Synopsis
Prologue
At the house of the richest man in Vienna, two theatre troupes are preparing for their performances: a commedia dell’arte group, led by the comedienne Zerbinetta, and an opera company presenting a serious opera, ‘Ariadne auf Naxos’. The Major-Domo announces that, to save time, both entertainments must be performed simultaneously.
The idealistic young Composer is loath to permit any changes to his opera. But when his teacher, the Music Master, points out that his pay depends on accepting the situation, and when Zerbinetta turns her charms upon him, he complies. When he fully realises what he has agreed, he storms out.
Synopsis
The opera
Ariadne, who has been abandoned by Theseus, laments her lost love and yearns for death. Zerbinetta and her four companions from the commedia dell’arte troupe attempt to cheer Ariadne by singing and dancing, but without success. Zerbinetta insists that the best way to cure a broken heart is to find another love. Each of the four commedia men pursues Zerbinetta.
Naiad, Dryad and Echo announce the arrival of a stranger. Ariadne assumes it is the messenger of death, but in fact it is Bacchus, who falls instantly in love with Ariadne. As Ariadne and Bacchus celebrate their love, Zerbinetta claims that she was right all along.
Performance timings
Timings are subject to change.
For further information about your visit please visit our how to get here page.
1 August
Grounds open: 3.30pm
First bell: 5.20pm
Opera starts: 5.30pm
Interval (90 mins): 6.10pm
Opera resumes: 7.40pm
Opera ends: 9.00pm
3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 21, 23, 26, 29 August
Grounds open: 2.00pm
First bell: 3.50pm
Opera starts: 4.00pm
Interval (90 mins): 4.40pm
Opera resumes: 6.10pm
Opera ends: 7.30pm
Creative team
Conductor
Robin Ticciati
Director & Costume Designer
Laurent Pelly
Set Designer
Massimo Troncanetti
Lighting Designer
Marco Giusti
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Glyndebourne Chorus
Chorus Director Aidan Oliver
Cast includes
Ariadne
Rachel Willis-Sørensen
Composer
Samantha Hankey
Zerbinetta
Alina Wunderlin
Bacchus
David Butt Philip
Music Master
Michael Kraus
Dancing Master
Ru Charlesworth
Truffaldino
Liam James Karai
Naiad
Anna Denisova
Dryad
Ekaterina Chayka-Rubinstein
Echo
Eirin Rognerud
To find out more about production support for Festival 2026 here
or contact our Director of Development, Helen McCarthy for an informal chat:
call 01273 815032 or email helen.mccarthy@glyndebourne.com
Main image: Leire Cavia/Stocksy. Image design by Louise Richardson
