Salome

If there has ever been a better performance of this famous opera and a better Salome than Teresa Stratas, I regret not having seen and heard it. It is hard to believe that this is the only time Stratas performed this role. She was terrific in every respect, the lustful, vindictive teenage tease of Herod's court!

A stunning performance of the Strauss opera. Stratas is one of the great actresses of the operatic stage, and one of the few petite enough to play a physically convincing Salome. She can seem like a child on stage, and of how many divas can you say that? This, like "Lulu," is an opera the lady simply owns. The production exudes sex (the John the Baptist is pretty hot too, which helps a lot), and it's very faithful to the spirit of the original, with a Beardsley-esqe quality to the production design that is NOT, however, cartoonish. If you happen to like the opera in the first place, this is satisfying in every way, on every level. If the opera leaves you cold, well, even then you have to admit that they've done it proud.

Although there have been numerous operatic and non-operatic versions of the Salome story, the Goetz Friedrich film of Richard Strauss' Salome is a total triumph. Indeed it should easily be on every opera lovers top ten list of operatic film productions. Teresa Stratas, known for her fine acting on stage, is unsurpassable in he lead role. She is remarkable in her transition from teen-like petulance to adult lust. Her performance of the Dance of the Seven Veils is far more erotic than other Salome's who use nudity for shock value. The artistic and musical direction are definitive and Stratas is surrounded by an equally talented cast. Note how each character comments (rhapsodizes) at some point about the Moon and how Astrid Varnay as Salome's Mother Herodias' puts everything in perspective with "Der Mond is der Mond und das is alles!...The moon is the moon and nothing more! A must buy for opera lovers!!!!

This is a riveting performance of Richard Strauss' groundbreaking opera, a glorious step forward toward modern music drama. Stratass is glorious in the title role, Bernd Weikel is a superb Jokanaan. The great Astrid Varnay is perfect as hernias, as is Hans Beirer as Herod. Karl Böhm is a master of the score and the Vienna Philharmonic is in top form. Beautifully staged. It is a thrilling experience to watch. Bravo!

I love Richard Strauss' music, particularly Four Last Songs, Don Juan and Der Rosenkavalier, but Salome is a wonderful work and worth seeing for Dance of the Seven Veils alone, though there is the superb music, and compelling story and characters to love too.

This Salome is truly marvellous. The costumes and sets are superb and the camera work splendid. Dance of the Seven Veils perhaps is a little slow in tempo, however the atmosphere and the staging more than make up for it as well as a wonderfully erotic Stratas.

The orchestral playing is some of the best and most passionate I've heard in a while, and Karl Bohm's expertise in Strauss comes through loud and clear.

The cast I can't fault either. Teresa Stratas is perhaps not the ideal Salome vocally, but she is terrific in the role, she sings absolutely beautifully and with power and she does show a gift for acting. Hans Beirer is brilliant as Herod, but the best performances for me come from Astrid Varnay as a limpid Herodius and Bernd Weikl as a thunderous Jochannan.

All in all, marvellous. 10/10 Bethany Cox