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Last Modified : 9-14-2008
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Richard Strauss - Salome Peter Hall · Edward Downes · Maria Ewing, · ROH Covent Garden
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JazzDigger Home > B - Jazz Artists > Derek Bailey > Item 1
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Richard Strauss - Salome Peter Hall · Edward Downes · Maria Ewing, · ROH Covent Garden
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by Maria Ewing, Michael Devlin
Sales Rank: 16750
Price:$26.99
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Product Review
While not everyone's idea of a proper opera singer, there's no denying soprano Maria Ewing's artistry as a performer, which is why her portrayal of Strauss's (and, from the original play, Oscar Wilde's) heroine in this 1992 staging is so riveting to watch. Her intensity, often misdirected in other portrayals, is focused on the teenage temptress she's playing, and she even performs a credibly sexy dance of the seven veils. Her then-husband, director Sir Peter Hall, makes sure that the audience sees his wife in the altogether at its conclusion (admittedly something not too many opera singers could pull off).
Otherwise, Sir Peter's production is properly strange, making viewers squirm while watching so many abhorrent people onstage. Michael Devlin is in strong voice as John the Baptist, and Kenneth Riegel makes Tetrarch the heinous devil he surely is. Edward Downes and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House bring out every thrilling aspect of the young Strauss's still-disturbing score. --Kevin Filipski
Back Cover Copy
Maria Ewing gives a command performance in this landmark production of Richard Strauss' one act musical drama. Conducted by Edward Downes and directed by Peter Hall. The cast includes: Maria Ewing as Salome, Michael Devlin as Jokanaan, Kenneth Riegel as Herod, Gillian Knight as Herodias, and Robin Leggate as Narraboth. 103 minutes, color, 1992, in German with English subtitles.
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Listener Reviews & Comments
When I found out that a version of "Salome" had finally come out on DVD, I became very excited. For one thing, this was one version I didn't already own on videotape. I also wanted to see for myself Maria Ewing's infamous portrayal of Salome, which I had heard quite a bit about. Of course, much of this infamy comes from her willingness to take the "Dance of the Seven Veils" to its logical extreme... without even a flesh-colored body stocking to make it more "acceptable" to staid opera fans. Aside from the obvious tabloid titillation of this aspect of her performance, her singing of the role might seem controversial as well. I will concede that, unlike a diligent opera singer, she doesn't hit all the notes "properly." But then, this ain`t bel canto opera. In my opinion, it actually adds an interesting dimension to the role.... rather than going "back" to Richard Wagner, Ewing occasionally takes the role "forward" to Kurt Weill, growling like a cabaret singer, sometimes teetering on the brink of sprechstimme (listen as she waits impatiently for the severed head of Jochanaan, the object of Salome`s sexual obsession). As Jochanaan, Michael Devlin looks appropriately emaciated with pale blue body makeup and beyond-waist-length hair, making him resemble that musical anti-Christ Marilyn Manson (even though Strauss actually preceded him in that category by about a century). Devlin's Jochanaan is also more pleading in spreading the gospel than singers in other versions, who make him seem more of a great proclaimer. Nonetheless, he still does come off as fanatical... just with a slightly more hysterical edge than other Jochanaans. Considering the opera's time period, the nods to Aubrey Beardsley and Gustav Klimt in the stage design are very appropriate. I definitely prefer this to Luc Bondy's humorless and snottily spare stage design in the Dohnanyi/Malfitano/Terfel video, which looks like someone set things up for Alban Berg's "Wozzeck" by mistake. And if you want realism, you have it in the deathly pale and bloody severed head that Salome cavorts with in the final scene. The Covent Garden Orchestra under Edward Downes plays quite well. But then, one has to work hard to mess up "Salome" (like making it tamer than it really is). When compared with other versions, however, the orchestra does not attack the "loud" sections with as much verve and flare as others, such as the Deutsche Oper Berlin in the Sinopoli/Malfitano/Estes video. On the other hand, the orchestra seems more at home in the more waltz-like sections. As the first "Salome" on DVD, this is a very welcome addition to my relatively small DVD collection. Ingenues to the opera should be sufficiently entertained, and there's enough orchestral flare and campy humor to please die-hard "Salome" fans (particularly stepdad Herod's requisite lechery and mama Herodias` Mrs Slocombe-like hairdo). Nevertheless, I still prefer the Sinopoli/Malfitano/Estes video overall. I can only hope that it will also be taken out of VHS limbo soon and placed on DVD.
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Richard Strauss - Salome Peter Hall · Edward Downes · Maria Ewing, · ROH Covent Garden
by Maria Ewing, Michael Devlin
Price:$26.99
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