Richard Strauss's Salome, Royal Opera House
It caused a sensation when it opened in 1905, and Richard Strauss's drama Salome can still shock today with its ruthless passions
Salome is based on Oscar Wilde's play. Photo: Clive Barda
If you have already
visited the highly recommended Opera: Passion, Power and Politics at the V&A, you will remember the searing scenes from Richard
Strauss’s bloody and powerful Salome. And if you have yet to see
that exhibition, look out for Salome in the area devoted to
breakthroughs in both music and art in Dresden in 1905.
The screened scenes and borrowed set come from David McVicar’s visceral 2008 production of Salome being revived this season at the Royal Opera House, this time with the Swedish soprano Malin Byström in the title role. Two voices to listen out for here are those of the rising British tenors John Daszak, as Salome’s stepfather Herod, and David Butt Philip, excellent last year in English National Opera's production of Puccini's Madam Butterfly, who plays Narraboth, the captain of Herod's guard.
The German mezzo-soprano Michaela Schuster sings Herodias, the mother of Salome, who drives her daughter to deadly acts.
With its notorious dance of the seven veils, tortuous relationships and the shocking decapitation of Jokanaan (John the Baptist), Salome is strong fare indeed, but as the V&A shows so well, first performed in 1905 and censored when it was first performed at Covent Garden five years later, it occupies an important place in the history of opera.
Booking opens at 9AM on 18 October. Salome is sung in German with English surtitles. It is sung straight through without an interval.
The screened scenes and borrowed set come from David McVicar’s visceral 2008 production of Salome being revived this season at the Royal Opera House, this time with the Swedish soprano Malin Byström in the title role. Two voices to listen out for here are those of the rising British tenors John Daszak, as Salome’s stepfather Herod, and David Butt Philip, excellent last year in English National Opera's production of Puccini's Madam Butterfly, who plays Narraboth, the captain of Herod's guard.
The German mezzo-soprano Michaela Schuster sings Herodias, the mother of Salome, who drives her daughter to deadly acts.
With its notorious dance of the seven veils, tortuous relationships and the shocking decapitation of Jokanaan (John the Baptist), Salome is strong fare indeed, but as the V&A shows so well, first performed in 1905 and censored when it was first performed at Covent Garden five years later, it occupies an important place in the history of opera.
Booking opens at 9AM on 18 October. Salome is sung in German with English surtitles. It is sung straight through without an interval.
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| What | Richard Strauss's Salome, Royal Opera House |
| Where | Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Covent Garden (underground) |
| When |
08 Jan 18 – 30 Jan 18, six performances |
| Price | £6 - £125 |
| Website | Click here for more information and booking |