Strauss R. Salome

SALOME OPERA

Salome is the most attention-grabbing and an incredible French play which was written by Oscar Wilde. The play has been translated further to German wordings, by Richard Strauss and is based on Hedwig Lanchmann translation.

This play by Richard Strauss is renowned for it is referred to as the dance of seven veils based on biblical account.
The play focuses on the Herodias daughter, her bizarre relationship with john the Baptist leads to her end and her father. It has a superfluous disgusting preceding scene in which Salome declare her love and kisses the detached head of John the Baptist.

This is the most interesting play to watch, it is well-matched to melodic adaptation. Moreover the playwright has used refrain and frequent motifs. Therefore, making it more musical and can collectively been referred to as ballad.

HISTORY

The play was first written by Oscar Wilde in French. It was further composed in German by Richard Strauss and after which it became more popular. The history of the play is deep and long, it was also performed in New York by Mary Garden in 1930s. In 1930, Strauss also made another version of the play in French which did not hit and was later revitalized in the year 1990 in Lyon, and the performance was recorded by Kent Nagano and Karen Huffstodt.

In 2011 it was edited by Liège opera. It was first performed in Dresden 9/12/1905 at the semperoper. It was allowed o be performed at Vienna State Opera in 1918. Up to date it is a renowned play with several recordings.

Act 1

The story takes place in Galilée, at Tiberias, Year 28.

Narraboth is madly falling in love with the princess who is exhausted of the feasting in the house, so she goes on to the terraces to get a fresh air.

Suddenly, she finds herself facing Narraboth who is the head of the guard. The captain is possessed by the beauty of the princess. Jochanaan the prophet is heard screaming from the palace cistern, and this makes Herod to fear, and warns everybody not to concentrate on him.

Act 2

King Herod and his colleagues move to the terraces after their banquet. Narraboth tends to approach the princess in spite of the Herodias opposition, but unfortunately the princess declines. Jochanaan shouts again cursing Herodias, however the king is afraid to tell him to remain silent. Herod hears the discussion of two gents from Nazareth speaking about the miracles by Jesus and he is frightened.

Act 3

Herod finally urges his daughter to bop with him, and vows to give her whatever she asks for, including half his realm. She accepts to join him in the dance regardless of Herodias objection. As they continue to dance, the princess undresses in front of her stepfather. She then asks for the Head of Jochanaan on a silver plate.

Herodias is happy although Herod becomes doomed he accepts. The princess is very happy and takes the head of jochanaan and kisses it.

MAIN ROLES

Salome, his daughter and niece, soprano

Jochanaan, John the Baptist, baritone

First soldier, bass

Second soldier, bass

 Herodias, his wife and sister in law, mezzo-soprano

The page of Herodias, contralto