Toledo Opera's 50th Celebratory Season Continues with Salome
Salome is a sensuous tale of obsession and revenge, portraying one of opera's most exotic and seductive women. Based on the Oscar Wilde play, Richard Strauss wrote his greatest opera, Salome, with a score that is fittingly voluptuous, seductive, and decadent. Performed without intermission and including the "Dance of the Seven Veils," Salome is a study of one young woman's obsession that builds to a frenzied, erotic, and inevitable conclusion. The indulgent and relentless Salome will be sung by Amy Johnson, known for her exciting portrayal of this tremendously difficult role. Adam Klein will sing King Herod and Bradley Garvin will portray the ill-fated Jochanaan (John the Baptist). Toledo Opera’s Grammy Award-winning conductor, Thomas Conlin, will lead The Toledo Symphony Orchestra. James Marvel, one of America’s most talked about young directors, will serve as stage director and Toledo artist Clayton Peterson will design the scenery.
Salome has been performed in every major opera house since its controversial premiere in Dresden 100 years ago. Cast in one sweeping and intense act, the action takes place 30 years after the birth of Christ. Salome is a neurotic and self-absorbed princess obsessed with John the Baptist. As her reward for dancing for Herod (the famous Dance of the Seven Veils) she claims the head of the prophet on a platter. The musical world was shocked by the powerful psycho-dramatic depiction of intense human instincts in this opera. Nevertheless, the opera received 38 curtain calls at its premiere performance and has found devoted fans worldwide from 1905 to the present day.
New designs for Salome include the set by Clayton G. Peterson, and lighting by Tláloc López-Watermann, both making their Toledo Opera debut with this production. General Director Renay Conlin said “we want to harness the spirit of the story written by Oscar Wilde and the powerful score composed by Richard Strauss by finding a vivid theatrical equivalent.”
Performances of Salome will be at The Valentine Theatre at 7:30 pm on Saturday, March 14 and Friday, March 20 and on Sunday, March 22 at 2:00 pm. Tickets from $29 to $95 are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.ToledoOpera.org, or by phone at 419-255-7464. Discounts are available for students, seniors or groups of ten or more. Salome will be sung in German with English translations projected above the stage.
Press Release Contact Name: Scott Baker
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419-255-SING
Organization Name: Toledo Opera
Organization Address: 425 Jefferson Ave., Suite 601, Toledo, OH, 43604