Salome at Hungarian State Oper

Scene: the palace of Herod, Tetrarch of Judea in Jerusalem

Time: the reign of Herod Antis II.



The young Syrian captain Narraboth is longingly watching Princess Salome revelling in the stateroom with Herod and his guests. His friend the page to Herodias is talking about some strange and dreadful tension. His prophesying words suggest some awful tragedy. Salome, longing for fresh air, walks out to the terrace where she takes notice of a voice coming from below the earth, that of Jokanaan the prophet shut up in a cistern used as prison. The princess entreats Narraboth until he has the cistern opened, thus breaking Herod's definite order. The prophet appears with a pale face and blazing eyes. Salome falls in love with him at first sight. Regardless of his abusive words about King Herod, his wife Herodias and the shallow life of their court she desires Jokanaan's kiss more and more eagerly. Jokanaan tries to divert Salome from her mad desire in vain: the girl claims his love more and more impatiently. In the end the prophet curses Salome and returns to his prison. Narraboth, who is in love with the princess, is unable to bear her passionate words and kills himself with his sword. Herod, keeping an eye on Salome, perceives her absence and sets out to find her. He steps into a pool of blood on the terrace and discovers the body of his faithful officer to his utter horror. His agitation soon passes: he asks for more wine and tries to persuade Salome to dance for him. The princess shows reluctance for a long time. She yields only when Herod promises to fulfil whatever she wishes in return. Salome is getting ready for the dance of the seven veils. Watching the dance in growing excitement, Herod urges Salome to tell him her wish. Salome answers simply. "I want the head of Jokanaan!" Though under the strong influence of wine, Herod knows that a lot of people look upon the prophet as a saint and he does his best to dissuade Salome from her mad intention. He promises her wonderful rare peacocks, then fabulous treasures and finally - to the righteous indignation of the jews - the curtain of the Ark of the Covenant. Salome remains firm. Her wish is backed by her mother Herodias, who has long hated the prophet for cursing her all the time. Bound by his promise, Herod eventually orders Salome's wish to be fulfilled. A terrible silence of suspense follows: everybody watches the executioner descend into the cistern breathlessly. The composer illustrates the fearful atmosphere with a frightening orchestral effect, the unusually high tones of the doublebass. In the end the executioner hands Salome the head of the prophet on a silver tray. The outer world ceases to exist for Salome. She lives for nothing but to fulfil her mad desire that is to kiss the dead man's lips. Herod himself is unable to bear the sight. He shouts at his soldiers, "Kill that woman!" The guards bury Salome beneath their shields.



Tartalom az OPAL-ból:





Bemutató:



Egyeb adatok:



Szövegíró: Oscar Wilde

Rendez?: Szikora János m. v.

Díszlettervez?: Csikós Attila m. v.

Jelmeztervez?: Schaffer Judit kivál

Karmester: Kovács János

Szereposztás:

Egyfelvonásos zenedráma

Német nyelv? el?adás. A német fordítás Hedvig Lachmann mun kája.

A rendez? munkatársai: Frigyesi Tibor, Szilágyi Gábor

Zenei asszisztensek: Dala Péter, Peth? Zsolt, P. Szabó Anikó, Salgó Tamás, Szücs Lórándt



Heródes: Rozsos István

Heródias: Mészöly Katalin

Salome: Sass Sylvia m.v. érdemes m?vész

Jochanaan: Kálmándi Mihály

Narraboth: Hormai József

Apród: Ulbrich Andrea f.h.

I. zsidó: Korcsmáros Péter

II. zsidó: Korondy György, érdemes m?vész

III. zsidó: Gerdesits Ferenc, Laczó András

IV. zsidó: Kecskés Sándor m.v.

V. zsidó: Hantos Balázs

I. nazarénus: Clementis Tamás f.h.

II. nazarénus: Lengyel Gábor, Szécsi István f.h.

I. katona: Király Miklós

II. katona: Fried Péter

egy cappadocai: K?vári Csaba f.h.

Rabszolga: Pataki Antal f.h.