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Adapted from Oscar Wilde’s play, the opera recounts the biblical story of Salome, who – to the horror of her stepfather Herod – demands the head of John the Baptist in return for performing the Dance of the Seven Veils.
At the opera’s premiere, the audience and critics were shocked by its subject matter and erotic theme. Salome’s world of voyeurism and sexual abuse still elicits an equally visceral response today: “…this Salome is marvelously wicked and wickedly marvelous, which has always been the point of the work – both Oscar Wilde’s play and Richard Strauss’s operatic adaptation.” (The Globe and Mail)
On stage at the Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W., Toronto. Performance time is approximately one hour, 40 minutes with no intermission. Sung in German with English SURTITLES™.
Conductor: Johannes Debus / Derek Bate Director: Atom Egoyan Choreographer: Serge Bennathan Set Designer: Derek McLane
Salome: Erika Sunnegårdh Jochanaan: Martin Gantner / Alan Held Herod: Richard Margison Herodias: Julia Juon
Co-production with Houston Grand Opera and Vancouver Opera
Helen Field as Salome in the Canadian Opera Company production of Salome. Photo: Michael Cooper © 2001