© In höchsten Tönen! Salome: Opera at the Crypt
Vienna, Peterskirche — Krypta
About the Event
In the mystical atmosphere of the crypt of St. Peter's Church, Richard Strauss' opera “Salome” unfolds with an intensity rarely experienced. Under the musical direction of Wolfgang Fritzsche, the masterpiece can be experienced anew in a captivating, intimate production – raw, sensual, and with gripping psychological depth.
The outstanding Katharina Jing An Gebauer shines in the title role, her captivating stage presence and vocal expressiveness making her Salome an unforgettable experience. She captivates her audience as the notorious king's daughter with a mixture of beguiling seduction, vulnerability, and madness.
The crypt, with its special acoustics, lends Strauss's sound drama an additional gripping intimacy that large opera houses can hardly achieve. A musical event of rare artistic density in a unique form.
Established as Austria's smallest opera theater, performances at the KRYPTA captivate audiences with their directness, high quality, and unusual venue. Located deep beneath Vienna's St. Peter's Church, the intimate hall offers a personal experience that lingers long after the curtain falls.
The KRYPTA is pleasantly temperate in every season.
Plot:
Scene 1 – On the terrace of the palace
Salome, the stepdaughter of King Herod, leaves the feast in the palace because she is disgusted by the lustful glances of her stepfather Herod. Outside, she hears the voice of the imprisoned prophet Jochanaan coming from a cistern, accusing Herodias, her mother, and Herod of their sins.
Salome listens to this mysterious voice with fascination and orders the captain Narraboth to bring Jochanaan out of the dungeon, even though this is forbidden.
Scene 2 – Salome and Jochanaan
When Jochanaan emerges from the cistern, Salome is overwhelmed by his appearance. She admires his beauty and tries to seduce him. However, Jochanaan rejects her harshly and calls on her to repent.
The more he rejects her, the stronger her desire grows. Finally, she begs him for a kiss, but he curses her and retreats back into the cistern.
Narraboth, who is in love with Salome, cannot bear the situation and kills himself in despair.
Scene 3 – Herod's feast and the dance
King Herod enters with his entourage. He fears Jochanaan and wants to release him, but Herodias wants him dead.
When Salome appears, Herod is fascinated by her and asks her to dance for him. At first she refuses, but agrees if she can have whatever she desires as a reward. Herod agrees.
Salome dances the famous “Dance of the Seven Veils.”
Scene 4 – The cruel wish
After the dance, Salome demands her reward: the head of Jochanaan on a silver platter.
Herod is horrified and tries to change her mind, offering her whatever is in his power. But Salome sticks to her wish.
Finally, Herod reluctantly gives in. The executioner brings the severed head of Jochanaan.
Scene 5 – Salome's monologue and the end
Salome takes the head, speaks passionately to it, and finally kisses Jochanaan's dead lips.
Herod is horrified by this shocking scene and cries out:
“Kill this woman!”
Salome is slain by the soldiers.
Practical Information
The 'Opera in the Crypt' series is a unique form of presenting opera at its very essence. With piano accompaniment, talented singers in costumes perform the works in the exceptional, intimate atmosphere of the crypt under St. Peter's Church. Through the short distance between audience and musicians you can experience opera in a way you have never heard or seen it before.
Program
- Richard Strauss – Salomé
Cast / Production
Salome — Katharina Jing An Gebauer
Jochanaan — Florian Pejrimovsky
Herod — Steffen Schantz
Herodias/Page — Alexandra Aidonopoulou
Narraboth/1st Jew/3rd Jew — Paul Skalicki
2nd Jew/4th Jew — Andrés Alzate
1st Soldier/5th Jew — Horst Lamnek
2nd Soldier/A Cappadocian/1st Nazarene — nn
Wolfgang Fritzsche — Musical Director, Piano
Ursula Hielscher – Violoncello
Production/Lighting — Dorothee Stanglmayr
Address
Peterskirche, Petersplatz, Vienna, Austria — Google Maps
