Indiana University graduate Rachele Gilmore stars as the pesky Zerbinetta in the Indianapolis Opera's production of Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. It's a return visit for Gilmore to the Indy Opera. She sang the role of Olympia in Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman there in 2007.
"The role of Zerbinetta in Ariadne… is a very difficult one. It is most challenging both for the complexity of the vocalism and the simple fact that it's a very long part. I'm happy to say that my training at Indiana University stands me in good stead. I very much enjoyed my undergrad days there in 1999-2003. My voice teacher Alice Hocker got me started very well. And, while I was learning this very difficult role all those courses in theory and music history really helped."
"The audience for Ariadne… gets two operas for the price of one. A wealthy patron has hired two companies. One is to do a serious telling of the sad story of Ariadne with Angela Brown as the heroine. Like me she's and IU grad. My company has been hired to do a comedy in commedia del arte style. Things get mixed up and we are forced to do both at once.
As Angela good naturedly says, "You're the one who keeps pestering me.!" And she's right. But it's because I'm just trying to cheer her up."
Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss
Indianapolis Opera at Clowes Hall
October 2 and 4, 2009