Salome

SALOME – Richard Strauss 1864-1949

Musikdrama in one act
Libretto by Richard Strauss
based on Hedwig Lachmann’s translation into German of Oscar Wilde’s Salomé

Salome: un Nuevo Testament nihilista.

Oscar Wilde wrote the biblical drama Salome in French while living in Torquay, inspired by Gustave Moreau's painting of the Hebrew princess. The work, in highly poetic prose, was not written for the renowned French actress Sarah Bernhardt, although she certainly asked to perform it. Wilde chose French for personal and strategic reasons, as it was not possible to stage biblical subjects in Victorian Britain. Richard Strauss became acquainted with the drama at its first performances in Germany, in a translation by Hedwig Lachmann, a playwright and the first writer of the libretto, which Strauss then reduced to a third of its original length. The composer wanted to sustain the philosophical nihilism, close to Nietzsche, which Wilde embellished with his decadent preciousness. Salome is a Wagnerian New Testament, the purification of Wagner's Parsifal. But despite Strauss's desire to go beyond the Wagnerian path, the remnants of its structures remained in the architecture of this neurotic symphonic poem, which ends with a bloody Liebestod sung by the eponymous character to the beloved and holy head of the Baptist.

Strauss' sensual and perverse Salome returns to Les Arts in an original production by La Scala, conceived by Damiano Michieletto, whose works Il viaggio a Reims, Don Giovanni, La damnation de Faust and L'elisir d'amore have all been successfully staged in the Main Hall. This production by today's most visionary Italian director is one of the most striking of his career, rich in symbolism, with a visual power that gives a more contemporary image of the biblical character played by Vida Miknevičiūtė. This Lithuanian soprano, admired for her exceptional vocal talent and ability to convey the emotional complexity of Salome, has established herself as a leading performer of this controversial role, with more than 50 performances to her credit in the opera houses of Vienna, Munich and Berlin, as well as La Scala, where she has performed in this same production. She is accompanied by renowned artists such as John Daszak (Herod), Michaela Schuster (Herodias) and Nicholas Brownlee, and conducted by James Gaffigan.

Synopsis

A great terrace in the Palace of Herod, set above the banqueting hall. Some soldiers are leaning over the balcony. To the right there is a gigantic staircase, to the left, at the back, an old cistern surrounded by a wall of green bronze. The moon is shining very brightly.

Narraboth gazes from a terrace in Herod's palace into the banquet hall at the beautiful Princess Salome; he is in love with her, and apotheosizes her, much to the disgusted fearfulness of the Page of Herodias. The voice of the Prophet Jochanaan is heard from his prison in the palace cistern; Herod fears him and has ordered that no one should contact him, including Jerusalem's High Priest.

Tired of the feast and its guests, Salome flees to the terrace. When she hears Jochanaan cursing her mother (Herodias), Salome's curiosity is piqued. The palace guards will not honor her petulant orders to fetch Jochanaan for her, so she teasingly works on Narraboth to bring Jochanaan before her. Despite the orders he has received from Herod, Narraboth finally gives in after she promises to smile at him.

Jochanaan emerges from the cistern and shouts prophecies regarding Herod and Herodias that no one understands, except Salome when the Prophet refers to her mother. Upon seeing Jochanaan, Salome is filled with an overwhelming desire for him, praising his white skin and asking to touch it, but he rejects her. She then praises his black hair, again asking to touch it, but is rejected once more. She finally begs for a kiss from Jochanaan's lips, and Narraboth, who cannot bear to hear this, kills himself. As Jochanaan is returned to the well, he preaches salvation through the Messiah.

Herod enters, followed by his wife and court. He slips in Narraboth's blood and starts hallucinating. He hears the beating of wings. Despite Herodias' objections, Herod stares lustfully at Salome, who rejects him. Jochanaan harasses Herodias from the well, calling her incestuous marriage to Herod sinful. She demands that Herod silence him. Herod refuses, and she mocks his fear. Five Jews argue concerning the nature of God. Two Nazarenes tell of Christ's miracles; at one point they bring up the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead, which Herod finds frightening.

Herod asks for Salome to eat with him, drink with him; indolently, she twice refuses, saying she is not hungry or thirsty. Herod then begs Salome to dance for him, Tanz für mich, Salome, though her mother objects. He promises to reward her with her heart's desire—even if it were one half of his kingdom.

After Salome inquires into his promise, and he swears to honor it, she prepares for the "Dance of the Seven Veils". This dance, very oriental in orchestration, has her slowly removing her seven veils, until she lies naked at his feet. Salome then demands the head of the prophet on a silver platter. Her mother cackles in pleasure. Herod tries to dissuade her with offers of jewels, peacocks, and the sacred veil of the Temple. Salome remains firm in her demand for Jochanaan's head, forcing Herod to accede to her demands. After a desperate monologue by Salome, an executioner emerges from the well and delivers the severed head as she requested.

Salome now declares her love for the severed head, caressing it and kissing the prophet's dead lips passionately. Horrified, Herod orders his soldiers, "Kill that woman!" They rush forward and crush Salome under their shields.

Program and cast

Conductor - James Gaffigan
Stage Director - Damiano Michieletto
Set Designer - Paolo Fantin
Costume Designer - Carla Teti
Lighting Designer - Alessandro Carletti
Choreography - Thomas Wilhelm

Salome - Vida Miknevičiūtė
Herodes - John Daszak
Herodias - Michaela Schuster
Jochanaan - Nicholas Brownlee
Narraboth - Joel Prieto

Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana