Salome

Salome
Music and lyrics by Richard Strauss. Based on the play by Oscar Wilde. Originally Directed by Gale Edwards. Set by Brian Thomson. Opera Australia. Dame Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. March 6 – 26, 2019.

This twentieth century opera has the most confronting story-line of almost any work in the genre – and to put the audience in the mood for a night of extreme drama was a set (and costumes) to die for. At the top of the stage were green lit animal skeletons hanging above the court of King Herod, where a panel of different religious leaders are enjoying a banquet.

On the menu is a debate about John the Baptist, who is imprisoned in a pit below them. Is he a prophet who has seen the face or God or can he be executed?

There was a stunning audio effect when the prisoner sings from the pit proclaiming the imminent arrival of the true messiah  – with the muffled echo providing a chilling reality to the scene. Just as exciting was when the grill was lifted from the pit and Jochanaan is lifted from the darkness.

The Russian bass-baritone Alexander Krasnov, with both an impressive voice and dressed to display ample flesh, is irresistible to the teenage Princess Salome. Lisa Lindstrom, the stunning soprano whose highest notes sparkle like a beautiful Stradivarius violin, milked the humour of the role with aplomb.

Salome ebbs between lust and outrage as her entreaties to kiss or touch him are rejected. Just as you think Jochanaan will not be able to resist her, she is cast aside.

Watching this scene with grim jealously is her helpless suitor Narraboth, in high camp military attire.

Soon Herod returns to the scene to lust after Salome, who is his step-daughter.

When he offers her anything for her heart – Salome buys time him with a dance of the seven veils. As is often the case with this opera, other dancers stand in for Salome including a Marilyn Monroe look-alike in this production.

In gratitude for the dance Herod grants Salome the most gruesome request imaginable.

The final scene is truly ghastly as Salome finally gets to kiss Jochanaan in rather bloodier circumstances than she first desired.

So this is an extreme opera experience – with bucket loads of lust, jealously, teenage angst, religious intrigue and swirling arias high and low on a space age looking set. You need a wipe down as you leave the theatre.

David Spicer

Photographer: Prudence Upton

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