Salome: Opera Bastille, Paris
Opera Bastille, Paris - 9/05/24
Salome, opera by Richard Strauss. conductor, Mark Wigglesworth, Lise Davidsen, soprano, Salome, Johan Reuter, bass baritone, Jochanaan
Salome: a love storyJochanaan! - and she gets her man!
The modern opera house at the Bastille was packed for the first night of ‘Salome’. The large numbers were probably not attracted by the production, which was unveiled 2 years ago to critical responses. Tonight we were all waiting to see how Lise Davidsen, whom many - including me - think is the finest dramatic soprano in the world would fare in this modern ‘Regietheater' production. The answer is she triumphed - she turned it into a love story between her and Jochanaan, superbly sung by Johan Reuter, and because of the rather unconventional plotlines they ended up clinging together in an iron cage, whilst Salome sang of her kiss tasting of blood.
Now you might say this is not the normal ending of ‘Salome’, but there is little expected in this production. There is lots of sex and nudity, but it all happens upstairs behind a glass screen and no one paid it much attention. We were all focused on the front of the stage, where Salome was serenading Jochanaan. It was fabulous singing from them both. Pavel Breslik was also very good as Narraboth - and (unconventionally) shot himself as this was of course a modern production!
There was no dance of the seven veils. Instead Herodes stripped Salome down to her slip, but then she ravished him and since she towered over Gerhard Siegel this seemed quite believable. Gerhard Seigel was a very convincing nasty little Herod and when he was shot at the end we didn’t mind (although of course that’s not in the libretto either!) Ekaterina Gubanova was excellent as Herodias, flouncing around with her fake breasts but singing well. Other minor parts were well sung, but the other star of the evening was conductor Mark Wigglesworth and the excellent Paris Opera Orchestra who gave this great Strauss score a superb rendition.
The production by Lydia Steier does of course major damage to the opera and has lots of silly business, but the truth is it is so silly nobody takes much notice. We were all focussed on the power and the beauty of Lise Davidsen. I have been following her career ever since I saw her triumph in another bad production, ‘Medea’ at Wexford some years ago, I saw her superb Leonora in ‘Fidelio’ at Covent Garden, just before lockdown, and her fine Elisabeth in ‘Don Carlos’ at Covent Garden last year. Tonight she sang the greatest Salome I’ve ever heard and convinced me yet again that she is the finest dramatic soprano singing today. Her reception tonight in the Bastille was ecstatic; she took half a dozen curtain calls and left the Paris audience very happy.
