Baltimore Opera Company

Study Guide

Salome

The Story

On the moonlit terrace of Herod's banquet hall, Narraboth, the young captain of the guards sings passionately of his love for the exotic young woman Salome, ("Wie schön ist die Prinzessin Salome heute Nacht!") who revels inside the hall with the other banquet guests. From within the palace the sounds of merriment and celebration echo forth, but from below ground, from the depths of a cistern, reverberates the voice of John the Baptist, prophesying the impending proclamation of the Messiah promised to the Jews ("Nach mir wird Einer kommen der ist stärker als ich"). Salome rushes onto the terrace, attracted by the intriguing sound emanating from the underground prison. In short order, she manipulates the emotionally vulnerable Narraboth into bringing the prisoner out for her inspection.

Even in his shabby, ragged state, the prophet Jochanaan carries himself with noble bearing as he denounces the decadence of his captors and foretells their impending doom. Jochanaan's powerful curse of her parents delights the perverse Salome, and she becomes increasingly convinced she must find a way to seduce him. To his horror she responds by acclaiming his physical beauty. First, she praises his ivory body and he recoils. Then she disparages his body but extols his black hair. Rebuffed again, she reviles his hair and sings of his red mouth, which she demands to kiss ("Lass mich deinen Mund küssen").

Overwhelmed by absolute rejection and the girl's outrageous perversion, Narraboth commits suicide on the spot. Intent upon eliciting a response from Jochanaan, Salome offers not even a glance in Narraboth's direction. With a final warning, the holy man returns to his cell.

Meanwhile, banquet guests begin pouring onto the terrace and Herod enters in distracted pursuit of the princess, with his antagonistic wife on his heels, first slipping on Narraboth's blood. He presses wine and fruit upon Salome and, even though rebuffed, implores her to sit by him ("Salome, komm, trink' Wein' mit mir"). He offers Salome a bite of fruit, saying he wants to put his mouth where hers has been. Herodias, the girl's mother, remonstrates in anger at her husband's incestuous suggestion and, hearing the ominous tones of Jochanaan's denunciation from the pit below, demands of Herod why he hasn't turned the prisoner over to the Jews.

Five Jews immediately step forward to reiterate the question, exposing Herod's growing fear of this Prophet and of God's probable retribution should the holy man come to harm. The energetic and satiric ensemble recapitulates their demands of an exasperated Herod, until the commanding voice of Jochanaan silences their argument. The Tetrarch's trepidation increases as his wife boils in rage ("Befiehl ihm, er soll schweigen") at the saint's prophecy of her personal damnation. Anxious to ignore the explosive controversy, Herod turns to Salome, asking her to dance before him. Herodias' anger peaks as she forbids such a performance. Salome acts noncommittal and uninspired. Herod, however, continues with the proposition, offering various sorts of tempting rewards. Finally, the girl agrees, on the condition that when she has finished Herod will grant her any wish she might make. Herod seals the bargain as a foreboding wind swirls over the assemblage and he wrenches a wreath of blossoms from his head, crying out that they burn him.

Salome provides the sensuous, decadent performance Herod has requested, then throws herself at his feet, sweetly and solemnly demanding her payment: the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter ("Ich will den Kopf des Jochanaan"). Horrified, Herod offers every alternative he can think of, even the veil of the Temple, which horrifies the Jews. Herodias, meanwhile, takes absolute delight in Salome's choice of a prize. Finally, a very frightened yet beaten Herod sends his ring to the prison guard, commanding Jochanaan's execution by beheading.

When the executioner appears with the severed head Salome sweeps up her prize and sings with delirious triumph that she has him at last, this man who rejected her. She recalls his beauty and at last persuades herself that he would have loved her had he looked at her. Horrified, Herod calls for the torches to be put out as a cloud covers the moon and the princess bends towards the dead lips. Salome sings softly that she has kissed John the Baptist's mouth, and that the taste was bitter. Was it the taste of blood? Perhaps it was the taste of Love…

Completely revolted, Herod orders the soldiers to kill her and they close in to crush her with their shields.

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