Overview
Synopsis
Salome is Oscar Wilde’s twist on the biblical story of Herod, Herodias, and Salome. The story tells of a lovely young girl Salome, her step-father Herod’s obsession with her, and Salome’s infatuation with the prophet John the Baptist (Jokanaan). This hypersexualized story and grim-fated heroine have outraged and intrigued audiences for the last century. Salome’s infamous “dance of the seven veils,” a seductive dance for her step-father, is one of the opera’s most famous musical moments, even though it has angered probably just about as many people as it has pleased.
Show Information
- Book
- Oscar Wilde
- Music
- Richard Strauss
- Lyrics
- Richard Strauss
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Oscar Wilde
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1905
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical, Horror
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- biblical, galilee, the palace of herod at tiberius
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- professional opera, Mature Audiences, Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano |
Songs
Author’s Note: Like many of Strauss’s operas, Salome is a through-composed work. The breakdown given below is to indicate a change of scene or characters and may differ to other breakdowns.
Scene 1
- ‘Wie schön ist die Prinzessin Salome heute Nacht!’ - Narraboth, Page, First Soldier, Second Soldier
- ‘Nach mir wird Einer kommen’ - Voice of Jokanaan, First Soldier, Second Soldier, A Cappadocian, Narraboth, Page
Scene 2
- ‘Ich will nicht bleiben’ - Salome, Page,
- ‘Siehe, der Herr ist gekommen’ - Voice of Jokanaan, Salome, Second Soldier, Narraboth, Slave, First Soldier
- ‘Jauchze nicht, du Land Palästina’ - Voice of Jokanaan, Salome. Second Soldier, First Soldier, Page
- ‘Du wirst das für mich tun’ - Salome, Narraboth
Scene 3
- ‘Wo ist er, dessen Sündenbecher jetzt voll ist?’ - Jokanaan, Salome, Narraboth
- ‘Er ist schrecklich’ - Salome, Narraboth, Jokanaan
- ‘Jochanaan! Ich bin verliebt in deinen Leib’ - Salome, Jokanaan, Narraboth
- ‘Wird dir nicht bange, Tochter der Herodias?’ - Jokanaan, Salome
Scene 4
- ‘Wo ist Salome?’ - Herodes, Herodias, First Soldier
- ‘Salome, komm, trink Wein mit mir’ - Herodes, Salome, Herodias
- ‘Siehe, die Zeit ist gekommen’ - Voice of Jokanaan, Herodias, Herodes
- ‘Wahrhaftig, Herr, es wäre besser, ihn in unsre Hände zu geben!’ - Herodes, Five Jews
- ‘Siehe, der Tag ist nahe’ - Voice of Jokanaan, Herodes, Two Nazarenes
- ‘Eine Menge Menschen wird sich gegen sie sammeln’ - Voice of Jokanaan, Herodes, Herodias
- ‘Tanz für Mich, Salome’ - Salome, Herodias, Herodes, Voice of Jokanaan
- Salome's Dance of the Seven Veils
- ‘Ah! Herrlich! Wundervoll, wundervoll!’ Herodes, Herodias, Salome
- ‘Salome, bedenk, was du tun willst’ - Herodes, Salome
- ‘Man soll ihr geben, was sie verlangt!’ - Herodes, First Soldier
- ‘Es ist kein Laut zu vernehmen’ - Salome
- ‘Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund küssen ’ - Salome
- ‘Sie ist ein Ungeheuer, deine Tochter’ - Herodes, Herodias
- ‘Ah! Ich habe deinen Mund geküsst, Jochanaan’ - Salome
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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