Music

Salome‭‭‭‭ is an opera in one act with libretto and music both written by Richard Strauss. The libretto in German is based on the French play by Oscar Wilde, who was inspired by a story from the Bible. It had been a controversial production on stage since its first appearance. The original biblical version is that John the Baptist (Jokanaan in Strauss’ play) denounces the incestuous union of King Herod and Salome’s mother, Herodias, and arouses ire and hate that lead to his imprisonment and eventual beheading. But the story evolved over generations of literary licence, and the nameless daughter of Herod who danced well in the Bible has become the leading role in the opera. Strauss’ opera was premiered at the Hofoper in Dresden in 1905, and since then has become one of the classics in the stock repertory of various major opera houses in the world and famous for its “Dance of the Seven Veils”. The upcoming production in Hong Kong will be jointly presented by Opera Hong Kong and the Slovenian National Theatre Opera and Ballet Ljubljana, featuring a cast of international and local singers and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. There will be a guided talk before the dress rehearsal.