Salome 1976
A tautly dramatic story…
…of decadence, lust and death in Biblical Judea
Synopsis
One Act
The scene is a terrace above the banquet hall in the palace of Herod, Tetrarch of Judea. Palace soldiers are on guard as the Tetrarch entertains within the hall. Narraboth, Captain of the Guard, speaks with the Page of his deep infatuation with the beautiful Princess Salome. The Page, hurt by Narraboth’s feelings, warns him of the dangers and futility of his love.
Salome, bored with the excesses of the banquet and the persistent attentions of her stepfather, appears on the terrace, and is intrigued by the strange voice coming from the cistern. The voice is that of Jokanaan, a prophet who has been preaching against Herodias as a murderous adulteress. Curious to see him, Salome asks that he be brought up from the cistern. Narraboth, unable to resist her persuasion, does as she asks, against Herod’s orders.
Jokanaan comes into the open continuing his denunciation of the Tetrarch’s wife and the court. Salome is immediately and completely overcome with desire for him, and Narraboth, realizing that he will never be regarded as more than a servant, kills himself unnoticed. When Jokanaan discovers Salome to be the daughter of Herodias, he curses her also and returns to the cistern leaving Salome pouting as a frustrated child.
Herod, Herodias, and their company enter the terrace. The dissolute Herod is full of personal and political fears, and is torn between his desire for Salome and his constant reading of ill omens and signs. He again turns his attention to Salome who, still intent on her encounter with Jokanaan, ignores him.
An argument ensues between the Tetrarch and his wife, who is jealous and derisive of his obvious attraction to her daughter. The disagreement is climaxed with Jokanaan’s voice again rising in denunciation of Herodias, who berates Herod for leaving the prophet unpunished.
The Jews and Nazarenes in the company become involved in a religious debate, and Salome, to her mother’s anger, gives in to Herod’s offer of any reward if she will dance for him.
Salome performs her sensual dance, ostensibly for Herod, with all her attention on the cistern. As her reward she demands the head of Jokanaan, which Herod finally allows her after frantic attempts to reach an alternative.
On receiving the head, Salome is transported into a sexual frenzy, speaking with Jokanaan as though he were alive, and finally fulfilling her frustrated lust by kissing the mouth she had been denied. Herod, horrified, orders her to be killed by the soldiers.
Artists
Nancy Shade
Soprano
Salome
Nancy Shade
Hometown: Rockford, IL
SFO Debut:
Violetta, La traviata, 1976 (July 17, 21; August 17 – 28)
Past Seasons:
Young Woman, We Come to the River, 1984
The Woman, Erwartung, 1980
Lulu, Lulu, 1979
Salome, Salome, 1976
William Dooley
Bass-baritone
Jokanaan
William Dooley
Hometown: Modesto, CA
SFO Debut:
Scarpia, Tosca, 1969 (August 21 – 23)
Past Seasons:
The Notary, Intermezzo, 1994
Tiresias, Oedipus, 1991
Simone Trovai, Violanta, 1984
The Notary, Intermezzo, 1984
Baron d’Houdoux, News of the Day, 1981
Peneios, Daphne, 1981
Gabriel, Die Jakobsleiter, 1980
Orest, Elektra, 1980
Dr. Ludwig Schon/Jack, Lulu, 1979
Jokanaan, Salome, 1978
Cardinal, The Duchess of Malfi, 1978
Jokanaan, Salome, 1976
Forester, The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
Don Afonso, Così fan tutte, 1975
Orator, The Magic Flute, 1974
Dr. Schon, Lulu, 1974
Dutchman, The Flying Dutchman, 1973
Jokanaan, Salome, 1972
Jokanaan, Salome, 1969
Ragnar Ulfung
Tenor
Herod
Ragnar Ulfung
Hometown: Oslo, Norway
SFO Debut:
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1966 (July 2 – 16)
Past Seasons:
Herod, Salome, 2006
Captain, Wozzeck, 2001
Aegisth, Elektra, 2000
Bill-Poster/Dean of Law, A Dream Play, 1998
Herod, Salome, 1995
Ambrogio, The Barber of Seville, 1994
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1993
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1988
Jedediah Potter, The Black Mask, 1988
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1986
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Pollux, Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Pollux, Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
Director/ Benoit, La bohème, 1981
Sellem, The Rake’s Progress, 1981
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1980
Aegisth, Elektra, 1980
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1979
Herod, Salome, 1979
Herod, Salome, 1978
Fadinard, The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Herod, Salome, 1976
Director, La bohème, 1974
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1974 (July 6 – August 8)
Director, Lulu, 1974
Director, La bohème, 1973
Vicomte Cascada, The Merry Widow, 1973
La Théière, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Herod, Salome, 1972
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1969
Herod, Salome, 1969
Adam, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1968
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Officer, Cardillac, 1967
Herod, Salome, 1967
Tom Rakewell, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto, 1966 (August 6 – 12)
Elaine Bonazzi
Mezzo-soprano
Herodias
Elaine Bonazzi
SFO Debut:
Mrs. Linton, Wuthering Heights, 1958
Past Seasons:
Mrs. Peachum, The Beggar’s Opera, 1992
Herodias, Salome, 1976
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976 (August 12 – 18)
Old Woman, Yerma, 1971
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
Herodias, Salome, 1967
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Countess Geschwitz, Lulu, 1964
La Chatte\ La tasse Chinoise\ La Libellule, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Zita, Gianni Schicci, 1964
Carmen, Carmen, 1964
Countess Geschwitz, Lulu, 1963
La Chatte\ La tasse Chinoise\ La Libellule, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Death, Le Rossignol, 1963
St. Catherine, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Herodias, Salome, 1962
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1962
Mother, Mavra, 1962
Death, Le Rossignol, 1962
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Duchess of Plaza-Toro, The Gondoliers, 1960
Zita, Gianni Schicci, 1960
Thisbe, Cinderella, 1960
Regina Giddens, Regina, 1959
Prince Orlofsky, Die Fledermaus, 1959
Smeaton, Anna Bolena, 1959
Thisbe, Cinderella, 1958
William Lewis
Tenor
Narraboth
William Lewis
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
SFO Debut:
Marco Palmieri, The Gondoliers, 1960
Past Seasons:
Alfredo, La traviata, 1976
Narraboth, Salome, 1976
John Adams, The Mother of Us All, 1976
Rodolfo, La bohème, 1974
Alwa, Lulu, 1974
Danilo, The Merry Widow, 1973
Rodolfo, La bohème, 1973
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1960
Alfredo, La traviata, 1960
Rinuccio, Gianni Schicci, 1960
Annette Spann
Mezzo-soprano
Page
Annette Spann
Hometown: South Carolina
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1976, 1977
Past Seasons:
Page, Salome, 1976
Robert Grayson
Tenor
First Jew
Robert Grayson
Hometown: Gardena, CA
SFO Debut:
Monsieur Triquet, Eugene Onegin, 1980
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1976
Past Seasons:
The Monk, Die Jakobsleiter, 1980
Gastone, La traviata, 1976
First Jew, Salome, 1976
James Atherton
Tenor
Second Jew
James Atherton
Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama
SFO Debut:
General Sir Philip Wingrave/Narrator, Owen Wingrave, 1973
Past Seasons:
Soldier 2, We Come to the River, 1984
Aristée-Pluton, Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Hermann, News of the Day, 1981
Leukippos, Daphne, 1981
Monsieur Triquet, Eugene Onegin, 1978
Antonio Bologna, The Duchess of Malfi, 1978
Achille/Vezinet, The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Jo the Loiterer, The Mother of Us All, 1976
Second Jew, Salome, 1976
Schoolmaster/Lapák, The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
La Théière, L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, 1975
Fenton, Falstaff, 1975
Frederick Kennedy
Tenor
Third Jew
Frederick Kennedy
Hometown: Ohio
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1976
Past Seasons:
Third Jew, Salome, 1976
James O'Neal
Tenor
Fourth Jew
James O'Neal
Hometown: California
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1976, 1977
Past Seasons:
Fourth Jew, Salome, 1976
John-Paul Bogart
Bass-baritone
Fifth Jew
John-Paul Bogart
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1975, 1975
Past Seasons:
Fifth Jew, Salome, 1976
Un Arbre, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
Second Priest, The Magic Flute, 1974
Director of the Theatre, Lulu, 1974
Gene Ives
Baritone
First Nazarene
Gene Ives
Hometown: San Ramon, CA
SFO Debut:
First Nazarene, Salome, 1976
Past Seasons:
Virgil T., The Mother of Us All, 1976
Stephen Bryant
Bass-baritone
Second Nazarene
Stephen Bryant
Hometown: Michigan
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1975, 1976
Past Seasons:
Second Nazarene, Salome, 1976
Indiana Elliot’s Brother, The Mother of Us All, 1976
Daniel McConnell
Bass-baritone
First Soldier
Daniel McConnell
Hometown: New Jersey
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1974, 1976
Past Seasons:
First Soldier, Salome, 1976
Julien Robbins
Bass-baritone
Second Soldier
Julien Robbins
Hometown: Harrisburg, PA
SFO Debut:
The Speaker, The Magic Flute, 1979
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1976
Past Seasons:
Dr. Grenvil, La traviata, 1976
Second Soldier, Salome, 1976
Andrew Taylor
Baritone
A Cappadocian
Andrew Taylor
Hometown: California
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1976, 1977
Past Seasons:
Lorek, Fedora, 1977
Cappadocian, Salome, 1976
Gloria Capone
Soprano
A Slave
Gloria Capone
Hometown: New York
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1975, 1976
Past Seasons:
Annina, La traviata, 1976
Slave, Salome, 1976
La Chouette, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
John Crosby
Conductor
John Crosby
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, 1957
Past Seasons:
La traviata, 2002
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Elektra, 2000
Countess Maritza, 1999
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
Madame Butterfly, 1998
Salome, 1998
La traviata, 1997
Arabella, 1997
Madame Butterfly, 1996
Daphne, 1996
Countess Maritza, 1995
Salome, 1995
Tosca, 1994 (July 1 – 15)
Intermezzo, 1994
La bohème, 1993 (July 2 – 16)
Capriccio, 1993
Die Fledermaus, 1992
Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
La traviata, 1991 (June 28 – July 6)
Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
La bohème, 1990
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
La traviata, 1989 (June 30 – July 12)
Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
Madame Butterfly, 1987
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Violanta, 1984
Intermezzo, 1984
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Arabella, 1983
Die Fledermaus, 1982
Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
La bohème, 1981
Daphne, 1981
La traviata, 1980
Elektra, 1980
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1979
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979
Salome, 1979
Tosca, 1978
Salome, 1978
The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Fedora, 1977
La traviata, 1976
Salome, 1976
Carmen, 1975
La bohème, 1974
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1974
La bohème, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Salome, 1972
Don Carlo, 1971
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1971
La traviata, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
Tosca, 1969
Salome, 1969
Madame Butterfly, 1968
La traviata, 1968
Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Carmen, 1967
La bohème, 1967
Tosca, 1966
Capriccio, 1966
Rigoletto, 1966
La traviata, 1965
Madame Butterfly, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Rigoletto, 1964
Daphne, 1964
La bohème, 1964 (August 22 & 28)
Die Fledermaus, 1963
Madame Butterfly, 1963
Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Salome, 1962
Oedipus Rex, 1962 (and Director)
Perséphone, 1962
Tosca, 1962
Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
La bohème, 1961
The Gondoliers, 1960
Tosca, 1960
Die Fledermaus, 1959
Madame Butterfly, 1959
La bohème, 1958
Wuthering Heights, 1958
Capriccio, 1958
Bliss Hebert
Director
Bliss Hebert
Hometown: Faust, NY
SFO Debut:
The Rake’s Progress, 1957
Past Seasons:
L’incoronazione di Poppea, 1986
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
The Tempest, 1985
Violanta, 1984
A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Mignon, 1982
The Rake’s Progress, 1981
Erwartung, 1980
Von Heute auf Morgen, 1980
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1979
Salome, 1979
Salome, 1978
Pelléas and Mélisande, 1977
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
Salome, 1976
Carmen, 1975
La vida breve, 1975
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1974
The Magic Flute, 1974
Le Rossignol, 1973
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Pelléas and Mélisande, 1972
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
The Magic Flute, 1971
The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Le Rossignol, 1970
The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Le Rossignol, 1969
The Magic Flute, 1969
The Magic Flute, 1968
Boulevard Solitude, 1967
Don Giovanni, 1966
The Rake’s Progress, 1966
The Stag King, 1965
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Rigoletto, 1964
Le Rossignol, 1963
Le Rossignol, 1962
The Rake’s Progress, 1962
The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Tosca, 1960
Abduction from the Seraglio, 1959
Regina, 1959
Falstaff, 1958
Maria Svetlova
Choreographer
Maria Svetlova
Hometown: Paris, France
SFO Debut:
Salome, 1976
Allen Charles Klein
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Allen Charles Klein
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
SFO Debut:
The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Past Seasons:
L’incoronazione di Poppea, 1986 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Tempest, 1985 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Mignon, 1982
The Rake’s Progress, 1981 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1979
Salome, 1979 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Salome, 1978 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Falstaff, 1977
Pelléas and Mélisande, 1977 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
La Traviata, 1976
L’Egisto, 1976 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Salome, 1976 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Falstaff, 1975
La vida breve, 1975 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1974
L’Egisto, 1974 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1973 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Merry Widow, 1973
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Pelléas and Mélisande, 1972 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
The Marriage of Figaro, 1971 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Yerma, 1971 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1970 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Georg Schreiber
Lighting Designer
Georg Schreiber
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
SFO Debut:
Rigoletto, 1964
Past Seasons:
The Mother of Us All, 1976
Salome, 1976
L’Egisto, 1976
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
La traviata, 1976
The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
La vida breve, 1975
Così fan tutte, 1975
Falstaff, 1975
Carmen, 1975
L’Egisto, 1974
Lulu, 1974
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1975
The Magic Flute, 1974
La bohème, 1974
Owen Wingrave, 1973
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Le Rossignol, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
La bohème, 1973
Salome, 1972
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Yerma, 1971
The Flying Dutchman, 1971
The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
The Magic Flute, 1971
Don Carlo, 1971
Opera, 1970
The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Le Rossignol, 1970
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
La traviata, 1970
The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Le Rossignol, 1969
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
The Magic Flute, 1969
Così fan tutte, 1969
Salome, 1969
Perséphone, 1968
Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
The Bassarids, 1968
The Elixir of Love, 1968
La traviata, 1968
The Magic Flute, 1968
Madame Butterfly, 1968
Salome, 1967
The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Boulevard Solitude, 1967
Cardillac, 1967
Carmen, 1967
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
The Nose, 1965
The Stag King, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Madame Butterfly, 1965
The Barber of Seville, 1965
La traviata, 1965
Lulu, 1964
La bohème, 1964
Daphne, 1964
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Carmen, 1964
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Terry Lusk
Chorus Master
Terry Lusk
Hometown: Cicero, IL
SFO Debut:
Carmen, 1975
Past Seasons:
Tosca, 1978
Count Ory, 1978
Eugene Onegin, 1978
The Duchess of Malfi, 1978
The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Falstaff, 1977
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1977
Fedora, 1977
Così fan tutte, 1977
La traviata, 1976
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
L’Egisto, 1976
The Mother of Us All, 1976
Falstaff, 1975
Così fan tutte, 1975
La vida breve, 1975
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
Salome 1976
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