Hi-Def Opera

Date: Sunday, April 18 at 2:45pm
Tickets: $20
Run Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes with 1 intermission
Language: In German with English Subtitles
Location: Mountain Cinema in the Doctorow Center for the Arts, Rte. 23A, Village of Hunter, NY
Information: 518-263-2002 (recorded information) or 518-263-4702 (during hours of operation)

The subject matter of this opera is taken from the Biblical story, but the character of Salome herself is much more freely developed, and she is the central figure of the drama. In Act 1 the Jewish prophet Jokanaan is held captive in Herod's palace courtyard, and his fearless voice is heard now and again still sounding forth his prophecies and denunciations. The beautiful and passionate young Princess Salome is greatly struck by the bold, manly tones of the captive, and she begs to have him brought forth for her to gaze upon. As Salome gazes upon the stern and noble features of the fearless prophet, his fine bearing and true force of character appeals to her so strongly that, seeing his superiority to the pleasure-seekers around her, she is seized with a sudden wild passion for him, and exerts all her powers of seduction to win his love. Jokanaan, however, is utterly untouched by her beauty and her wiles. This disregard of her charms enrages the passionate Salome, and her sudden love changing to jealous and unreasoning hatred she resolves to be revenged upon the prophet.

Herod, intoxicated with Salome's beauty and charm, rashly agrees to grant her any request if she performs the famous Dance of the Seven Veils. When the dance comes to an end Herod again promises to give the maiden anything she may desire, and Salome boldly demands the head of Jokanaan the Prophet, whom she hates for despising her love, to be brought to her on a silver charger. This dreadful request staggers Herod with horror, but when Salome repeats her request and taunts him by scornfully accusing him of cowardice he is so goaded to desperation by her stinging words that he agrees to grant her wish. Salome never wavers from her resolve to be revenged upon the man who has disdained her love, but when the head of Jokanaan is at last brought to her in the silver charger she is filled with remorse, and kisses the silent lips with passionate fervour. This act so enrages and horrifies Herod that he bids his guards slay the now weeping girl, and the opera closes with the fall of the beautiful and passionate Salome beneath the weapons of the soldiers.