Salome
A king who desires his wild and wilful step-daughter. Her erotic fascination with a condemned prophet. Salome is a study in obsessions, with lust and death at every turn.
Based on Oscar Wilde’s play, Strauss’s landmark opera was greeted with shock, horror, excitement, awe, respect, censorship, scandal, condemnation - just the kind of responses that fill theatres and cinemas to this day. The music, sweet, sour, erotic, often dizzily thrilling, has not been blunted by time. This is no overture. A rising arpeggio on the clarinet launches Narraboth into his rapturous vision of Salome and, from there to the end, there is let-up in the intensity and tension of the score. Composed in 1905, Salome is still one of the wildest and most rewarding rides - at times of overwhelming intensity - to experience, and one of the most challenging in the repertoire for the lead soprano. Sinéad Campbell Wallace singing the title role, complete with its 20-minute final aria that moves from animal frenzy to demented erotic yearning. Irish National Opera’s acclaimed new production is directed by Bruno Ravella and conducted by Fergus Sheil.
CAST
Salome | Sinéad Campbell Wallace |
|---|---|
Herodes | Vincent Wolfsteiner |
Herodias | Imelda Drumm |
Jochanaan | Tómas Tómasson |
Narraboth | Alex McKissick |
The Page of Herodias | Doreen Curran |
Soldiers | Julian Close Lukas Jakobski |
Jews | Christopher Bowen Andrew Masterson William Pearson Aaron O'Hare Eoghan Desmond |
Nazarenes | Wyn Pencarreg Eoin Foran |
Cappadocian | Kevin Neville |
Slave | Leanne Fitzgerald |
Orchestra | Irish National Opera Orchestra |
| ... | |
Music | Richard Strauss |
|---|---|
Text | Hedwig Lachmann |
Conductor | Fergus Sheil |
Director | Bruno Ravella |
Sets & Costumes | Leslie Travers |
Light | Ciarán Bagnall |
Choreography | Liz Roche |
Assistant director | Chris Kelly |
Répétiteur & Language Coach | Mark Lawson |
Assistant Conductor | Elaine Kelly |
| ... | |
VIDEOS
Story
The great terrace in the palace of Herod at Tiberias, Galilee, the capital of his kingdom. About 30 AD.
On the great terrace of Herod’s palace, the young captain, Narraboth, admires the beautiful princess Salome who sits at the banquet table with her stepfather Herod and his guests. A page warns the captain that something terrible may happen if he continues to stare at the princess, but Narraboth won’t listen. The voice of the prophet Jochanaan (John the Baptist) is heard from the cistern below where he is kept prisoner, proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. Two soldiers comment on his kindness and Herod’s fear of him.
Salome steps out on the terrace, disgusted by Herod’s advances toward her. Jochanaan’s voice is heard again, cursing Herod and Herodias, Salome’s mother. Transfixed by this voice, Salome persuades the captain to bring the prophet to her. At first frightened, Salome quickly grows fascinated and begs Jochanaan to let her touch his white body, then his black hair, and finally let her kiss his red mouth. The prophet forcefully rejects her. Narraboth, in despair over her actions, stabs himself. Jochanaan swears Salome will never kiss his mouth and tells her to save herself by seeking Christ. His words fall on deaf ears, he curses her as the daughter of an adulteress and leaves.
Herod comes out on the terrace looking for Salome. After commenting on the strange look of the moon, he slips in Narraboth’s blood and has hallucinations. Herodias dismisses his fears but Herod’s attention has turned toward Salome. When Jochanaan resumes the denunciation of Herodias, she demands that Herod hand over the prophet to the Jews. Herod refuses, maintaining that Jochanaan is a holy man who has seen God. These words spark an argument among the Jews concerning the true nature of God, until two Nazarenes relate the miracles of Jesus.
Herod asks Salome to dance for him. She refuses, but he wins her over by promising to give her anything she wants in return. Ignoring her mother’s pleas, Salome dances for the king. Delighted, Herod asks her what reward she would like. Salome replies with a smile: the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. Herodias is delighted whilst Herod is horrified. He offers other rewards but Salome is adamant, and reminds him of his oath. He finally gives in, and the executioner goes to do his gruesome task. When the prophet’s head is brought to her, Salome passionately addresses Jochanaan as if he were still alive, and finally kisses his lips.
Herod, shocked and terrified, orders his men to kill her, and she is stoned to death.
Gallery
