
Salome
April 7, 8, 14 & 16, 2023
Friday shows at 7:30 PM
Sunday at 2 PM
Salome, Op. 54, is an opera in one act by composer
Richard Strauss. The libretto is Hedwig Lachmann's
German translation of the 1891 French play Salomé by
Oscar Wilde, edited by the composer.
The opera is famous (at the time of its premiere,
infamous) for its "Dance of the Seven Veils.”
The production in Billings is accompanied by piano
and sung in German with English text projected above
the stage.
The opera’s length is 90 minutes.
The Story:
The opera begins in the Palace of Herod. Narraboth,
captain of the guard, gazes at Princess Salome, with
whom he loves. Jochanaan, an imprisoned prophet, is
held within the cistern. Salome hears Jochanaan
cursing her mother, Queen Herodias. Salome charms
Narraboth into bringing the prophet to her. When he
is brought forth, Jochanaan yells prophecies
concerning the king and queen. Salome is overcome
with longing for the prophet, and she makes three
requests: to caress his skin, to feel his hair, and
to kiss his lips; all three requests are rejected by
the prophet. Consumed by jealousy to hear this,
Narraboth commits suicide before Jochanaan is
returned to the cistern below the palace. Click here for more information

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