Opera Omaha's First Strauss Production

For the first time in its history, Opera Omaha is to take on an opera by Richard Strauss! And what a piece it is, with the hilarious opera-within-an-opera Ariadne Auf Naxos being the production gracing the Orpheum stage. Strauss' 1912 classic is a self-aware story, about a highly serious opera that somehow accidentally ends up as a chaotic comedy featuring a troupe of clowns. A delightful de-construction of opera as an artform and the ever-raging battle between "high art" and "low art" for a place in the public consciousness, Steven White conducts and Chas Rader-Shieber directs this magnificent work.

What Is The Story?

One of the richest men in Vienna is putting on one hell of a party. He's hired two completely opposed groups to perform at his soiree - a self-serious opera company with high ideals, and a bawdy group of comedians. After the dinner runs late, there's only time for one performance. But the host wants to see both. Hence, a perfect solution presents itself: perform them both at the same time. Cue an absolute firestorm of clashing artistic ideals, egos, and a night set for abject chaos. Who's ready for a show?