Utah Opera Presents Strauss' Salome

Utah Opera Presents Strauss' Salome

Utah Opera presents Strauss’ Salome at Abravanel Hall, Friday, October 18 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 20 at 2:00 pm. 

Utah Opera brings a visceral, operatic experience to Abravanel Hall with the evocative production of Richard Strauss’ Salome, featuring veterans of the Metropolitan Opera House, guest artists Jon Frederic West as Herod and Victoria Livengood as Herodias.

Rising soprano star Marcy Stonikas sings the title role as the disturbed young heroine in her Utah Opera debut of the semi-staged production at Abravanel Hall at 7:30 pm on October 18 and October 20, which also has a 2 pm show. Michael Chioldi plays Jochanaan. Directed by Kevin Newbury and conducted by Stewart Robertson, the opera will be sung in German with English supertitles. The performance will last approximately 96 minutes with no intermission.

Due to renovations on Capital Theatre, Salome will be presented onstage at Abravanel Hall, something Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth says lends itself perfectly to the opera in a “theatrical symphonic staging.”

“Opera audiences are usually denied the opportunity to actually see the orchestra playing a score,” explains McBeth. “A staging in a symphonic setting allows us to feature the music front and center; the orchestra itself plays a major character both musically and theatrically. We are excited to make Salome an immersive theatrical experience, with the orchestra front and center.

McBeth describes the opera as rooted in Expressionism, a modernist movement of the early 20th century Germany. Expressionist artists and musicians sought to evoke visceral, emotional responses in audiences with their visual art form. Strauss’ Salome is based upon Hedwig Lachmann's German translation of the French play Salomé by Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde which was refused a license for England due to the absolute prohibition of Biblical subjects on the English stage.

The story of Salome revolves around a disturbed and overtly sensual young woman whose shocking behavior is matched in potency only by the latent lechery of King Herod. The setting is not a tranquil court, but rather a den of vipers where no man is safe from seduction and harm. The opera is famous for its "Dance of the Seven Veils" in which Salome dances provocatively at the urging of King Herod. It is now better known for the more shocking final scene (often a concert-piece for dramatic sopranos), where Salome declares her love to – and kisses – the severed head of John the Baptist.

Additional Events
Utah Opera Principal Coach Carol Anderson will offer an Opera Prelude Lecture, free of charge for ticket holders, in the First Tier Room of Abravanel Hall one hour before curtain of each performance.

Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth will hold a Q&A session, free of charge, immediately following each performance in the First Tier Room of Abravanel Hall.

Tickets for the performances can be purchased by phone at 801-355-2787, in person at the Abravanel Hall ticket office (123 W. South Temple) or by visiting www.utahopera.org.

Utah Opera Presents:
Strauss’ Salome
     Composed by Richard Strauss
     Based on Hedwig Lachmann's German translation of the French
          play Salomé by Oscar Wilde
     Sung in German
          Supertitles in English prepared by Floyd Anderson
     Premiere: Hofoper in Dresden, December 9,1905
          First produced by Utah Opera in January 1995

CAST
Salomé
     Marcy Stonikas
Herod
     Jon Fredric West
Jokanaan
     Michael Chioldi
Herodias
     Victoria Livengood
Narraboth
     Robert Breault
Page
     Gretchen Windt
1rst Jew
     Timur Bekbosunov
2nd Jew
     Torrance Blaisdell
3rd Jew
     Jim Miller
4th Jew
     Todd Miller
5th Jew
     Thomas Forde
1rst Nazarene
     Patrick Blackwell
2nd Nazarene
     Shea Owens
1rst Soldier
     Jason Switzer
2nd Soldier
     Tyler Oliphant
A Slave
     Amy Owens

SYNOPSIS
Judea, A.D. 30. From the moonlit terrace of King Herod's palace, Narraboth, captain of the guard, gazes rapturously inside at the Princess Salome, who is feasting with her stepfather and his court. The voice of the prophet Jochanaan echoes from a deep cistern, where he is imprisoned by the king, who fears him.

Salome, bored with Herod's lechery and his coarse guests, rushes out for fresh air and becomes curious when she hears Jochanaan curse Herodias, her mother. When the soldiers refuse to bring Jochanaan to her, Salome turns her wiles on Narraboth, who orders that Jochanaan be summoned. Salome is fascinated by the prophet's deathly pallor and pours out her uncontrollable desire to touch him. The prophet rejects her, speaking of the Son of God who will come to save mankind. When Salome continues to beg for Jochanaan's kiss, Narraboth stabs himself in horror, and the prophet descends into the cistern, urging her to seek salvation in the Messiah. The girl collapses in frustration and longing.

Herod appears, followed by his court. When he slips in Narraboth's blood, he becomes unnerved and begins to experience hallucinations, which Herodias scorns. Herod's thoughts turn to Salome, who spurns his attentions. Renewed abuse from Jochanaan's subterranean voice harrasses Herodias, who demands that Herod turn the prophet over to the Jews. Herod's refusal incurs an argument among several Jews concerning the nature of God, and a narrative of Christ's miracles by two Nazarenes.

Herod begs Salome to divert him by dancing and offers her anything she might wish in return. Salome makes him swear he will live up to his promise, then dances, slowly shedding seven veils and finishing her performance at his feet. Salome demands the head of Jochanaan on a silver platter, ignoring Herod's desperate alternatives - jewels, rare birds, a sacred veil. The terrified king finally gives in. After a tense pause, the arm of the executioner rises from the cistern, offering the head to Salome. As clouds obscure the moon, Salome seizes her reward passionately, addressing Jochanaan as if he lived and triumphantly kissing his lips. Overcome with revulsion, Herod orders the soldiers to kill Salome.

Abravanel Hall
123 West South Temple
Salt Lake City, UT


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