The Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre “virtually” revives their 2010 production of Richard Strauss’ Salome. At its 1905 Dresden premiere, Strauss’ operatic setting of Oscar Wilde’s gruesome 1891 tale sent shock waves through the opera world and drove critics into a frenzy.
Banned from London audiences until 1907, the one-act opera sets the Biblical story of Salome. Well-known for the notorious “Dance of the Seven Veils” and Salome’s lusty desires, the musically demanding score requires world-class singers. The CROT’s founder and conductor, Dr. Daniel Kleinknecht, selected stars all with recognized international careers and Iowa connections to perform the four challenging principal roles.
Chariton native, a graduate of Grinnell College and the Manhattan School of Music, and dramatic soprano Amy Johnson portrayed the title role.
Mezzo-soprano and Sigourney native, Katharine Goeldner, graduate of The University of Iowa and recipient of her Magister Diplom/Master’s Degree with High Honors in Lieder and Oratorio from the Salzburg Mozarteum University, sang the role of Salome’s conniving mother, Herodias.
Salome’s lascivious stepdad was performed by tenor Jeffrey Dowd, who attended Coe College and Yale University and garnered his Master’s Degree at Indiana University.
And the tragic and doomed role of Jochanaan (John the Baptist) was depicted by Moville native and Morningside College graduate, bass-baritone Mark Schnaible.
The Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre’s production was originally filmed by Iowa Public Broadcasting Service on January 10, 2010, at the Great Hall of UNI’s Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. Stage direction was commandeered by Gregory Keller of the Metropolitan Opera. Daniel Kleinknecht served as the music director, and Orchestra Iowa members presented the challenging orchestral score.
