Salome

Synopsis

A world of exotic and dangerous decadence. The story of the young Princess of Judea's catastrophic sexual awakening in the corrupt world of Herod's court where she develops a violent sexual obsession with John the Baptist. The original play was often banned and always controversial.

Our Review:

Keith McDonnell - 31 May 2012

David McVicar’s Pasolini-inspired staging of Strauss’ lurid one-acter, Salome, is back at The Royal Opera after a two-year absence, and it makes for a curiously uneven night’s entertainment – if indeed you can call it that. Watching an indolent teenager lolloping around the stage with a severed head that endlessly oozes oodles of blood may not be everyone’s cup of tea and it’s surprising, given the daily horrors that we have to endure on the news, that this opera still has the ability to shock.

This was my fourth encounter with McVicar’s vision of the piece and its confusion over what it’s trying to say is more apparent now than it was in 2008. Es Devlin’s split-stage design, linked by a spiral staircase allows us to peer ‘below stairs’ at the dank and oppressive environment inhabited by the palace’s workers. A carcass hangs in the distance, there’s blood on the floor, and naked ligh...

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Latest User Review

David E Williams - 19 June 2012:

I attended the performance on Saturday 16 June. I wouldn't recognise the performance from the review of the first night given above. It was just fabulous! I saw it last time and i thought Angela Denoke was in much better voice than last time. They were all just great. I can imagine Herod better sung than it actually was (Peter Bronder would have been wonderful in the role). Very well received by the audience....

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