Salome
Palais Theatre
23 Oct 2020
- 27 Oct 2020
Gallery
1 of
Palais Theatre, St Kilda
Saturday 22 February 2020, 7.30pm
Tuesday 25 February 2020, 7.30pm
Thursday 27 February 2020, 7.30pm
Running time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, no interval
Sung in German with English surtitles
Suitable for mature audiences, ages 15+
Patrons' Pre-show Drinks Tuesday 25 February, 6:30pm
Price reserve maps for this production can be found on our Venue Information page.
The image of Salome kissing the severed head of John the Baptist (Jochanaan) at once repulses and fascinates, permeating popular culture from classical painting to theatre. Based on Oscar Wilde’s notorious play, Strauss’ opera combines a biblical tale with sexual awakening, eroticism and murder, exploring the nature of desire and outer limits of human behaviour.
Intoxicating Salome, the teenage stepdaughter of King Herod (Herodes), is overcome by her desire for the prophet Jochanaan. After his rejection, she takes her revenge by demanding his head.
Emotion rings out in the music which holds a physical power and immediacy, full of rich orchestral colour, and includes the infamous ‘Dance of the Seven Veils’. A stellar international and Australian cast features Vida Miknevičiūtė, Ian Storey, Daniel Sumegi, Liane Keegan and James Egglestone.
Prepare to be astounded by this horrifying yet exhilarating spectacle. One of the most extreme operatic experiences, Salome is an extraordinary work that still has the same power to shock audiences as it did when it was first performed.
Story & Music
The story
At a banquet hosted by King Herod, Narraboth, the Captain of the Guard is entranced by Salome, the teenage daughter of Herod’s wife Herodias. Seeking to escape the leering gaze of her stepfather, Salome becomes intrigued by the cries of the imprisoned prophet Jochanaan and convinces Narraboth to bring him to her.
Although Jochanaan rejects her, Salome obsesses over him. She praises his voice and physical features, above all, his mouth. Herod persuades Salome to dance for him and promises her whatever her heart desires in return. As her prize Salome requests Jochanaan’s head on a silver platter so she can finally kiss his lips.
The music
Strauss’ daring and inventive score conveys feelings of terror, lust, hatred and obsession through melodious and dissonant music with rapid-fire shifts of mood. Opening without an overture, a slithering clarinet scale immediately sets the scene of Middle Eastern orientalism, further developed in the heady ‘Dance of the Seven Veils’. Recurring leitmotifs give expression to characterisation and reinforce the idea of obsession in a changing web of associations. Veering from cacophonous to sweeping melodies, lyricism and exotic harmonies reflect the poetry of the text, while polytonality represents the extreme psychological situations.
Cast & Creatives
Composer Richard Strauss
Librettist Oscar Wilde translated by Hedwig Lachmann
Conductor Richard Mills
Director Cameron Menzies
Set Designer Christina Smith
Costume Designer Anna Cordingley
Lighting Designer Gavan Swift
Choreographer Elizabeth Hill-Cooper
Cast
Herod Ian Storey
Herodias Liane Keegan
Salome Vida Miknevičiūtė
Jochanaan Daniel Sumegi
Narraboth James Egglestone
Page of Herodias Dimity Shepherd
Jews Paul Biencourt, Daniel Todd, Timothy Reynolds, Carlos E. Bárcenas, Raphael Wong
Nazarenes Simon Meadows, Douglas Kelly
Soldiers Alex Pokryshevsky, Jerzy Kozlowski
Cappadocian Kiran Rajasingam
Slave Kathryn Radcliffe
Orchestra
Orchestra Victoria
Book Tickets
Choose Your Own (CYO) Subscription Pricing*
| Package Type | Prem | A-Res | B-Res | C-Res | D-Res |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Shows - Save 10% | $156 | $119 | $81 | $35 | $30 |
| 3-5 Shows - Save 20% | $139 | $106 | $72 | $35 | $30 |
| 6+ Shows - Save 30% | $121 | $93 | $63 | $35 | $30 |
Single ticket prices $39-$174
| Price Type | Prem | A-Res | B-Res | C-Res | D-Res |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $174 | $133 | $91 | $39 | $30 |
| Concession | $164 | $123 | $81 | $39 | $30 |
| Senior | $169 | $128 | $86 | $39 | $30 |
| 30 Years & Under | N/A | N/A | $45 | $35 | $30 |
| Group (6+) | $164 | $123 | $81 | $39 | $30 |
| Arts Access | N/A | N/A | $30 | $30 | $15 |
*Subscription pricing applies to Full (Adult), Concession and 30 Years and Under ticket buyers. Discount savings are calculated on full-priced Single Ticket prices for 2020. Concession and 30 Years and Under subscription pricing does not apply to Premium seating. Concession subscription prices are available to Pension and Health Care Card holders, full-time Students, MEAA Members, Arts Centre Melbourne Arts Industry Card holders.
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Reviews
“★★★★ ½ The voices are awe-inspiring.”
“★★★★ ½ This production is perhaps the company’s most impressive yet...it's visually enthralling and unnerving”
“★★★★ It may be an old and bloody tale, but it feels very much alive in this excellent rendition.”
“World-class...dazzling and disturbing”
“Vida Mikneviciute is a revelation”