PROLOGUE
Vienna, 18th century. Backstage at the private theater in the house of the richest man in Vienna, preparations are in progress for the performance of a new opera seria, Ariadne auf Naxos. The major-domo enters to inform the music master that, immediately after the opera, an Italian comedy will be performed, followed by a fireworks display in the garden. The outraged music master replies that the composer, his young pupil, will never tolerate that, but the major-domo is unimpressed by his objections and leaves. When the composer appears, hoping for a last-minute rehearsal, a disdainful servant tells him that the musicians are still playing dinner music. Suddenly, the tenor rushes in from his dressing room, arguing with the wigmaker. The prima donna furiously comments on the presence of the comedy troupe and their leading lady, Zerbinetta. In the middle of the confusion, the major-domo returns with an announcement: In order for the fireworks to begin on time, the opera and the comedy are to be performed simultaneously.

General consternation soon gives way to practical reactions. The dancing master suggests cutting the opera’s score. The music master persuades the despairing composer to do so, while the two lead singers independently urge him to abridge the other’s part. Meanwhile, Zerbinetta gives her troupe a briefing on the opera’s plot. Ariadne, they are told, has been abandoned by her lover Theseus on the island of Naxos, where she now waits for death. Zerbinetta, however, claims that all Ariadne really needs is a new lover. When the composer vehemently disagrees, Zerbinetta begins to flirt with him. Suddenly, the young man finds new hope. Filled with love and enthusiasm for his work, he passionately declares music the greatest of all the arts. But when he catches sight of the comedians, ready to go on stage, he realizes with horror what he has agreed to. He blames the music master for the artistic debacle and runs off.

序幕
十八世紀的維也納。在維也納首富家中的私人劇場後台中，一套全新歌劇《拿索斯島的亞莉安妮》的表演預備工作正進行得如火如荼。管家進入後台，通知音樂總監在歌劇完結後，會上演一齣意大利喜劇，接著在花園有煙花表演。音樂總監憤怒地回應：他的年青學生──歌劇的作曲家絕不會接受這種安排。可是管家對他的反對意見不為所動，拂袖而去。作曲家進場，希望可以在表演前做最後綵排，但是傲慢的下人跟他說樂師仍在為晚餐演奏音樂。男高音突然從他的化妝間衝進來，與假髮師爭論著，女主角則狠批著喜劇團及其女領班彩碧妮塔。在這一片喧鬧中，管家回來宣佈：為了使煙花表演準時開始，歌劇與喜劇必須同時上演。

一陣驚訝後，眾人很快回歸理性。舞蹈總監提議縮短歌劇的長度。音樂總監勸說失落的作曲家聽從舞蹈總監的提議，而兩位主唱分別要求作曲家刪減對方的歌曲。與此同時，彩碧妮㜓向她的團友簡介歌劇的情節：亞莉安妮被她的情人忒修斯拋棄在拿索斯島上，現在唯有在島上坐以待斃。但彩碧妮塔認為亞莉安妮所需的只是一位新情人。當作曲家激烈反對，彩碧妮塔開始與他調情。忽然間，年青作曲家重拾希望。作曲家對自己的工作充滿熱忱，豪言音樂是最偉大的藝術。可是當他看到準備上台表演的喜劇演員時，赫然想起他之前做出了甚麼妥協。他將表演失敗歸咎於音樂總監，然後快步離開。


INTERMISSION
中場休息


THE OPERA
The Ariadne myth tells how Prince Theseus of Athens set out for Crete to kill the Minotaur, a creature half man, half bull, who was concealed in a labyrinth. Princess Ariadne of Crete fell in love with Theseus and gave him a ball of thread that enabled him to find his way out of the labyrinth after he had killed the Minotaur. When Theseus left Crete, he took Ariadne with him as his bride. During their voyage home, they stopped at the island of Naxos. While Ariadne was asleep, Theseus slipped away and continued his journey to Athens without her. The opera Ariadne auf Naxos begins at this point.

Ariadne is alone in front of her cave. Three nymphs look on and lament her fate. Watching from the wings, the comedians are doubtful whether they will be able to cheer her up. Ariadne recalls her love for Theseus, then imagines herself as a chaste girl, awaiting death. Harlekin tries to divert her with a song, but Ariadne ignores him. As if in a trance, she resolves to await Hermes, messenger of death. He will take her to another world, where everything is pure. When the comedians’ efforts continue to fail, Zerbinetta finally addresses Ariadne directly, woman to woman, explaining to her the human need to change an old love for a new. Insulted, Ariadne leaves. After Zerbinetta has finished her speech, her colleagues leap back onto the scene, competing for her attention. Zerbinetta gives in to Harlekin’s comic protestations of love and the comedians exit.

The nymphs announce the approach of a ship: It carries the young god Bacchus, who has escaped the enchantress Circe. Bacchus’s voice is heard in the distance, and Ariadne prepares to greet her visitor, whom she thinks must be death at last. When he appears, she at first mistakes him for Theseus come back to her, but he majestically proclaims his godhood. Entranced by Ariadne’s beauty, Bacchus tells her that he would sooner see the stars vanish than give her up. Reconciled to a new existence, Ariadne joins Bacchus as they ascend to the heavens. Zerbinetta sneaks in to have the last word: “When a new god comes along, we’re dumbstruck.”

歌劇
亞莉安妮的神話故事講述雅典王子忒修斯出發往克里特島，殺死被隱藏在迷宮中的牛頭人身怪物米諾陶。克里特島的公主亞莉安妮鍾情於忒修斯，於是給他一綑毛線，讓他可以在殺死米諾陶後順利走出迷宮。忒修斯離開克里特島時，帶同亞莉安妮離開做他的妻子。就在回家的旅途上，他倆停靠在拿索斯島。忒修斯趁亞莉安妮熟睡時，悄悄離開拿索斯島，獨自繼續回雅典的路途。歌劇《拿索斯島的亞莉安妮》由這裏開始。

亞莉安妮一個人在山洞前面。三個仙女看著她，為她的命運歎息。一班喜劇演員從仙女翼間觀察著亞莉安妮，未知他們能否逗她開心。亞莉安妮回想她對忒修思的愛，想像自己是一個靜待死亡的貞潔女子。哈勒金嘗試以歌聲分散她的注意，但亞莉安妮沒有理會他。亞莉安妮好像入定了一樣，決心要等候死神信差赫密士。赫密士將會帶她到另一個世界，那裏一切都是純潔無瑕的。當喜劇演員的努力總是付之流水時，彩碧妮塔最終直接跟亞莉安妮對話，大家同為女人，彩碧妮塔向她解釋人須要放棄舊愛尋找新歡。亞莉安妮感到屈辱憤然離開。彩碧妮塔完成她的講話後，她的伙伴一躍而上返回舞台，爭取她的注意。彩碧妮塔受不住哈勒金滑稽的示愛方式綻放歡顏，喜劇演員接著退場。

仙女宣告有船隻靠近：船上有年青天神巴庫斯，他剛剛擺脫了女巫瑟茜。從遠處已聽到巴庫斯的聲音，亞莉安妮準備迎接她的訪客，認為他一定就是死神。巴庫斯現身，亞莉安妮起初誤以為是回來找她的忒修斯，但他鄭重地宣稱自己是神的身分。巴庫斯被亞莉安妮的美貌迷倒，向她承諾他寧願放棄天上繁星也不想放棄她。亞莉安妮豁然開朗，決定跟巴庫斯離開，兩者一起升上天堂。彩碧妮塔悄悄進入，說出最後一句台詞：「新神的降臨令我們目瞪口呆。」