Picture it: The fateful premiere of a very serious opera. A colorful cast of very unserious comedians. An unlikely set of circumstances that lands them both on stage… at the same time. What could possibly go wrong?

At Lyric Opera of Chicago, John Cox’s acclaimed production of this brilliantly self-referential opera-within-an-opera offers a peek behind the curtain at the kaleidoscope of personalities that turn mere stagecraft into high (or low!) art.

Ariadne auf Naxos is playful in conceit, but the music is no joke — Richard Strauss’s score is packed with high-octane vocalism and unexpected dramatic twists that promise to dazzle and delight at every turn.