Opening night of Salome at the Bayerische Staatsoper
© Geoffroy Schied
“And now – separated in a box that she drags back and forth, that she rattles and shakes – she takes Jochanaan’s kiss, lovingly, vengefully, triumphantly. Her vocal fervor over the bitter, bloody lips of the prophet’s head intensifies into a fury of her own lust and the mockery of her victim. Thanks to Grigorian, the visually unappetizing scene becomes a cooing, glowing, luxuriously hysterical auditory feast. And the audience didn’t let it unsettle them. Shouts and cheers erupted when the curtain rose once more, just for AG”
Photos from the opening night of Salome at the Bayerische Staatsoper conducted by Thomas Guggeis.
“She ... [succeeded] in energizing, motivating, and captivating everyone else on stage and in the pit ... Music, staging, and acting, instrumental and vocal parts, all whipped each other into a frenzy; the State Orchestra, under the decisively conducting Thomas Guggeis, was ablaze with energy, and Herod’s family in the orchestra pitted themselves with relish. It was truly a stellar performance.”
