OperaDB

Salome

opera · Musikdrama

Composer Richard Strauss

Translator Hedwig Lachmann

Synopsis

On Herod's terrace, Narraboth defies his king's orders and has the imprisoned prophet Jochanaan (John the Baptist) brought up at Princess Salome's command. Jochanaan denounces her mother Herodias's marriage to Herod and spurns Salome herself, but his revulsion only inflames her sudden, consuming desire for him.

Key facts

Premiere
9 December 1905, Königliches Opernhaus, Dresden
Acts
1
Language
German (de)
Setting
Herod's palace in Galilee, about AD 30.

Notes

The only version. The libretto is Hedwig Lachmann's German translation of Oscar Wilde's play, abridged by Strauss himself.

Dramatis personae

Role Voice Created by
Herodes Tetrarch of Judaea, Herodias's husband. tenor (heldentenor) Karel Burian
Herodias Herod's wife. mezzo-soprano Irene von Chavanne
Salome Herodias's daughter. soprano (dramatic) Marie Wittich
Jochanaan John the Baptist. baritone Karl Perron
Narraboth A young Syrian, captain of the guard. tenor Rudolf Jäger
Ein Page der Herodias A page in Herodias's household. contralto Riza Eibenschütz
Erster Jude One of five Jews disputing scripture. tenor Hans Rüdiger
Zweiter Jude One of five Jews disputing scripture. tenor Hans Saville
Dritter Jude One of five Jews disputing scripture. tenor Georg Grosch
Vierter Jude One of five Jews disputing scripture. tenor Anton Erl
Fünfter Jude One of five Jews disputing scripture. bass Leon Rains
Erster Nazarener One of two Nazarenes, followers of Jesus. bass Friedrich Plaschke
Zweiter Nazarener One of two Nazarenes, followers of Jesus. tenor Theodor Kruis
Erster Soldat One of two soldiers guarding Herod's court. bass Franz Nebuschka
Zweiter Soldat One of two soldiers guarding Herod's court. bass Hans Erwin Hey
Ein Cappadocier A Cappadocian. bass Ernst Wachter
Ein Sklave A slave in Herod's household. soprano Maria Keldorfer

Source

Written from