Product Description
Featuring:
Deborah Voigt (Ariadne/Prima Donna), Natalie Dessay (Zerbinetta), Susanne Mentzer (The Composer), Richard Margison (Bacchus/The Tenor), Wolfgang Brendel (The Music Master), Waldemar Kmentt (The Major-Domo), James Courtney (A Lackey), Mark Schowalter (An Officer), John Fiorito (A Wigmaker), Tony Stevenson (The Dancing Master), Nathan Gunn (Harlekin), John Nuzzo (Brighella), Eric Cutler (Scaramuccio), John Del Carlo (Truffaldin), Joyce Guyer (Najade), Jossie Pérez (Dryade) & Alexandra Deshorties (Echo)
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, James Levine (conductor) & Laurie Feldman (stage director)
Production Elijah Moshinsky
Set and Costume Designer Michael Yeargan
Lighting Designer Gil Wechsler
Recorded in 2003 at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, this sumptuous production of Ariadne auf Naxos presents divas Deborah Voigt and Natalie Dessay in the contrasting roles which embody the opera’s themes.
Two of today’s reigning sopranos – Deborah Voigt and Natalie Dessay – embody the contrasting philosophies at the heart of Ariadne auf Naxos: the deserted princess Ariadne, a ‘one-man woman’ who believes in loyalty unto death, and the flirtatious comedienne Zerbinetta, who takes a more pragmatic attitude to love and to life.
This recording from the Metropolitan Opera dates from 2003. The noble, soaring lines of Ariadne gave Voigt a major breakthrough in 1991, when she sang the role in Boston, and it subsequently became her signature role. Zerbinetta exemplifies the dizzy coloratura characters which first made Dessay’s reputation.
Two reviews from the New York Times evoke the first night of Elijah Moshinsky’s production in 1993, and the performance a decade later that is commemorated on this DVD.
“...two prima donnas [Voigt and Mentzer] at the peaks of their careers having fun with the liveliest Elijah Moshinsky production I've seen...Dessay slips between complex human truth and the commedia dell'arte character...[Voigt] reveals a talent for Dickensian comedy...altogether a great version to win new lovers to this gorgeous work.” - BBC Music Magazine, 5/5
“[Voigt's] singing is full, weighty and rises to the climactic heights of the final duet...The most engaging portrayal comes from Natalie Dessay as Zerbinetta. As well as hitting all the notes (albeit with some vinegary tone), Dessay gives the character three dimensions, adding extra depth with her wide-eyed vulnerability...James Levine takes his time in the pit - but how many opera orchestras play this score with such high-quality indulgence?” - Gramophone Magazine
