Richard STRAUSS
Salome Salome is sexy. She is subversive. She is a femme fatale. Like an earthy spirit of decadence, her song blows the civilised sensibilities of the world apart. Tanz für mich, Salome…Dance for me, Salome. Richard Strauss’s Salome caused a sensation when it premiered in Europe in 1905. It has been shocking and enthralling audiences ever since. The music is by turns ravishing and disturbing, pushing the boundaries of romantic music with burnished tones and fiery harmonies.
And who will play Salome?
Now Gale Edwards, who thrilled audiences with her edgy and brilliant La bohème in 2011, directs a new production of Richard Strauss’s explosive one-act opera, with sets by Brian Thomson and Johannes Fritzsch conducting.
Who else, but one of the world’s leading interpreters of the great Strauss heroines, Cheryl Barker, recreating a role she first sang to great acclaim at London’s English National Opera. On stage with her is the magnificent John Wegner as Jokanaan, a moral beacon in a sea of decadence, and tenor John Pickering making his company debut in the role of Herod. Jacqueline Dark plays Herod’s wife Herodias, David Corcoran is Narraboth, and a grand ensemble cast peoples the court of Herod.
Conductor Johannes Fritzsch Director Gale Edwards Set Designer Brian Thomson Costume Designer Julie Lynch Lighting Designer John Rayment
Page to Herodias Sian Pendry Jew 1 Kanen Breen Jew 2 Andrew Brunsdon Jew 3 Graeme Macfarlane Jew 4 John Longmuir
Strauss throws all his musical powers into the biblical story of a princess, a prisoner, a dance and a death.
Herod John Pickering Herodias Jacqueline Dark Salome Cheryl Barker Jokanaan John Wegner Narraboth David Corcoran
Jew 5 Richard Anderson First Nazarene Shane Lowrencev Second Nazarene Luke Gabbedy Soldier 1 Richard Anderson A Cappadocian Andrew Moran
Evenings at 7:30pm: October 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 29, 31. Matinee at 1pm: November 3. Performed in German with English surtitles. Running time: Approximately one hour and forty minutes – no interval.
Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra An Opera Conference co-production.
NEW PRODUCTION
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