About the work
Opera in five acts by Jules Massenet drawing on Greek mythology, with a libretto by the poet Catulle Mendès. Its premiere on 31 October 1906 at the Paris Opéra was Massenet's fifth premiere at that house.
Plot
Ariane helps Thésée kill the Minotaur and escape Crete, but he abandons her for her sister Phèdre. After Phèdre is killed by a toppling statue, Ariane descends to the underworld and persuades Perséphone to restore her sister to life — only for Thésée to choose Phèdre once again. In despair, Ariane is lured into the sea off Naxos by the voices of sirens and drowns herself.
Cultural significance
For a darker orchestral palette, Massenet expanded the low brass with a contrabass clarinet, a bass trumpet and a fourth trombone. The 'air des roses' was encored at every performance, yet the opera, given around sixty times, soon disappeared from the stage again.