Metropolitan Opera Singers to be Featured in First Opera at the New Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts

On Friday and Sunday, August 12 and 14, the Lakes Area Music Festival presents the first full opera production ever to grace the stage of the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts: Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss. Featuring six singers from the Metropolitan Opera and the all-star LAMF orchestra led by music director, Christian Reif, Ariadne auf Naxos promises to be a highlight of the season. Friday’s concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday’s at 2 p.m.

This rollicking comedy follows the drama that ensues when two theater pieces – one a Greek tragedy and the other a commedia dell’arte farce – are forced to perform simultaneously. Ariadne auf Naxos is an enchanting masterpiece which satirizes showbusiness as it explores the widest range of musical and theatrical possibility, from monumental opera to irreverent comedy.

“This production marks the first opera ever performed at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts – and what an apt way to begin!”, said artistic director, John Taylor Ward.  “At its heart, Ariadne auf Naxos is a love letter to the act of creating opera. It doesn’t shy away from the challenges (big egos, financial constraints, and backstage chaos) but in the end, it displays the sublime union of comedy, drama, music, and design that define this art form.”

More information is available at lakesareamusic.org. Tickets – which are anticipated to sell quickly – can be purchased on a “name-your-price” sliding scale, to ensure universal access to world-class performances, via the festival’s website or by calling (218) 831-0765. General inquiries can be made at (218) ASK-LAMF [275-5263].

Founded in 2009, the Lakes Area Music Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The 2022 season is  bringing more than 200 artists from around the world to participate in chamber music, symphonic repertoire, opera, outreach, and education. The renowned series runs through August 21.