However, in at least one way, Ariadne auf Naxos doesn't fit easily with most of Strauss' work. For a composer best known for writing large and lush orchestrations, this particular opera is scored for a full orchestra of fewer than 40 musicians—smaller than a typical Strauss string section. "In Ariadne auf Naxos, every player must be present and precise. It's a piece of symphonic chamber music, where every single musician is also a soloist. But if everyone just plays soloistically, balance problems quickly arise. You need an exceptional orchestra, like the Bayerisches Staatsorchester, to handle this task well. It's a common dance on the volcano - but definitely the most beautiful one."

Much like a piece of chamber music, he adds, the very quality of an Ariadne auf Naxos performance is largely shaped by individual players in the orchestra pit. "Every production, every cast, every group of musicians is unique," Lange says. "I'm a conductor who tries to listen to musicians to get a feel for how they work, how they react, and also how at some point we can all be a bit spontaneous. I know Strauss, and I especially know Ariadne auf Naxos. But right now, my job is to get to know each of these people and see what they bring to the performance."