Wiener Staatsoper: Salome

Lusted after by one powerful man and rejected by another, a young woman avenges herself by setting up a chain of events that result in the quick death of one and foreshadows that of the other, but dies herself in doing so. French director Cyril Teste does not interpret the opera Salome, which was banned by the censors at the time of its creation (“the display of a perverse sensuality, as embodied in the figure of Salome, is morally offensive”), as a mere tragedy. Nor does he set it during the Roman occupation of Palestine at the time of Christ, but in the context of an illustrious evening party, underlining one aspect of the play: the traumatisation of a fourteen-year-old child by her family. 

Live video projections onto the back wall of the stage are showing us faces, expressions and actions that help flesh out the action. Swedish soprano Malin Byström “is the central star that carries the evening scenically and vocally. [...] She shows a present torn woman who is ground between powerful men.” (Wiener Zeitung) “The Vienna State Opera Orchestra was on excellent form too, full of rich, warm tone in which to luxuriate, yet ever precise and directed” (Seen and Heard International) by the Wiener Staatsoper’s musical director Philippe Jordan – “a master of sound dramaturgy” (Kurier).

Zitate: 

“Orchestral excellence, vocal virtuosity” (bachtrack)

“Tremendously opulent sound and rush of colour” (BR Klassik)

“The Wiener Philharmoniker simply have Strauss in their DNA.” (Kurier)

a host of outstanding performances onstage. Malin Byström fully inhabited the title role from beginning to end, in as fine a performance as one could hope to see and hear. (Seen and Heard international)

Michaela Schuster was surely destined for Herodias, her portrayal effortlessly iconic – for once, the much-abused word seems fitting – in its small observations as in its effortless hauteur. (Seen and Heard international)

The Vienna State Opera Orchestra was on excellent form too, full of rich, warm tone in which to luxuriate, yet ever precise and directed (Seen and Heard international)