Strauss' Salome (opera in concert)

Revisited many times over the course of the centuries, a new interest in the story of the biblical character Salomé flowered in the second half of the 19th century. Numerous writers drew inspiration from her tale, including Charles Baudelaire in his 1857 poetry collection Fleurs du Mal, Gustave Flaubert in his short story Hérodias from his 1877 work Trois Contes, and Oscar Wilde in his 1893 Salomé. It is from Wilde's one-act play in a German translation by Hedwig Lachmann that Strauss drew the libretto for his eponymous opera. Salomé's 1905 premiere at Dresden's Hofoper was a resounding success, with no less than 38 encores! Mahler called it, "one of the most important works of our age." Strauss later created a French version of his opera based on Wilde's original prose with the help of the author and musicologist Romain Rolland, which was premiered in 1907.

Insulted by the prophet Jochanaan's refusal of her kisses, Salomé, an obstinate princess, decides to seek vengeance at all costs. In exchange for his head, she dances for her step-father Herod...

Made possible by the support of the Tabor Foundation.
Photo: Charles Dutoit © Nicolas Brodard

Credits