The Dissonant Howl of “Salome”

The Dissonant Howl of “Salome”

Alex Ross reviews new productions of Richard Strauss’s opera, based on Oscar Wilde’s play, staged by the Met and Heartbeat Opera.

Salome – The Metropolitan Opera - North West End UK

Director Claus Guth gives the biblical story – already filtered through the beautiful and strange imagination of Oscar Wilde’s play – a psychologically perceptive Victorian-era setting, rich in symbolism and subtle shades of darkness, light, and shadow, as Strauss’ one-act tragedy receives its first new production at The Met in twenty years. Narraboth (Piotr Buszewski) admires the princess Salome (Elza van den Heever) and unable to resist her, a…