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By Chuck Graham
Citizen Arts Critic
Tucson Citizen
January 17, 1997

Don't give up on "Ariadne auf Naxos" at intermission. The second act is the real opera. The first act is only filler added on later by Richard Strauss so the second act could be part of a full length work.

Act 2 alone is still worth the price of a ticket. It has heart-break, humor and triumph, an acrobatic aria and a lover's duet, all on one little mythical island setting. At last night's opening performance by the Arizona Opera Company in the Music Hall of the Tucson Convention Center, Carmella Jones and Blythe Walker received the most vigorous applause. For Jones in the title role, taking that curtain call was the first chance she had to smile. Her performance, all in the second act is a concentrated study in depression. As Ariadne, the soprano has been rejected off-stage by Theseus and now lies in front of a cave on Naxos, as Greek mythology dictates, hoping the broken heart she suffers will soon kill her.

Without explanation and looking completely surreal, the comedian Zerbinetta and three clowns in traditional costumes come walking ashore, having apparently strolled across from a nearby Greek island. Blythe Walker, soprano, as Zerbinetta is determined to cheer up Ariadne, whose only response is a lamentation on her eagerness to reach the land of the Dead. Zerbinetta tries to sympathize further by singing of all the men who have done her wrong. But all this does is inspire Harlequin (David Darling, baritone) to make a pass at Zerbinetta.

This sort of thing continues until the very dramatic arrival of Bacchus, the god of wine and good times, on his silver sailing ship. As sung by Arnold Rawls, tenor, Bacchus doesn't reveal much party spirit. The towering sail of his ship is painted with a twining grape vine, however.

Though Ariadne never brightens up, the duet she sings with Bacchus is compelling. When she boards that silver ship with him and sails away, we feel happy.

The scenery design by Wolfram Skalicki and lighting by Russell Stagg combine to make this a convincing opera moment. All of the second act is dark, however.

Act 1 is nearly all comedy, led by Tucson native and mezzo-soprano Janice Felty in the humorous role of the Composer.

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