Director Claus Guth's new production of Richard Strauss' Salome opens at the Metropolitan Opera April 29, starring soprano Elza van den Heever as the titular Princess of Judea, who courts disaster when she becomes smitten with the prophet Jochanaan, who is being held prisoner by her father King Herod. Get a first look at the production below.
Much like the Oscar Wilde play from which it was adapted, Strauss鈥� Salome has long courted controversy. Its Metropolitan Opera premiere in 1907 was met with cries of 鈥渄egeneracy,鈥� with audiences and board members alike balking at its gruesome content. The opera was subsequently banned at the Met until 1934, when it was brought back to a more favorable reception, and it has been revived regularly ever since.
Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Peter Mattei and Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Peter Mattei and Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
A scene from Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Gerhard Siegel and Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Gerhard Siegel and Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Elza van den Heever in Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
A scene from Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
A scene from Salome at the Metropolitan Opera
Elza van den Heever is joined by baritone Peter Mattei as Jochanaan, tenor Gerhard Siegel as Herod, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung as the Queen Herodias, and tenor Piotr Buszewski as the guard Narraboth. Met Music Director Yannick N茅zet-S茅guin conducts.
Guth leads a creative team that includes set designer Etienne Pluss, costume designer Ursula Kudrna, lighting designer Olaf Freese, projection designer Roland Horvath, choreographer Sommer Ulrickson, and dramaturg Yvonne Gebauer. All except Horvath are making their Met debut.
Performances of Salome run April 29-May 24. Visit .
