Salome

This December, we are thrilled to present a rare opera performance at Siljustøl!

Mathieu van Bellen and Mathias Halvorsen bring their unique interpretation of Salome, where the orchestra and singers are reduced to just two instruments: violin and piano. This marks the duo’s third opera project, following Puccini’s Tosca and La Bohème.

Previously focused on Italian romanticism, the duo now turns to late-Romantic German music drama. Richard Strauss’ Salome is characterized by its expressive intensity and complex, rich harmonies, perfectly matching its once-shocking storyline.

Practical information

Location: Siljustøl

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: 290,- for adults and 50,- for children.

If you are a Kode ung member, you can purchase concert tickets for NOK 100.

About Salome

The opera is based on Oscar Wilde’s play Salomé and is set in Judea during the reign of King Herod. Princess Salome, Herod’s stepdaughter, becomes obsessed with John the Baptist (Jokanaan), who has been imprisoned for condemning the king and his wife, Herodias (Salome’s mother). Salome desires to kiss Jokanaan, but he rejects her.

The opera reaches its climax in the infamous Dance of the Seven Veils, when Herod, who is also infatuated with Salome, asks her to dance for him. She agrees, but only on the condition that she receives Jokanaan’s head on a silver platter as her reward. Salome performs the dance, stripping off her veils and ending up naked before Herod. After Jokanaan is beheaded, Salome receives his head and kisses it in a grotesque act of triumph. The opera concludes with Herod, overwhelmed by disgust, ordering Salome’s execution.

Strauss composed music for nearly every word of the play. The interplay between the plot, libretto, and music conveys profound psychological depth. The challenging musical style, combined with the storyline’s sexual elements, shocked audiences when the opera premiered in 1905.

About the Artists

Dutch violinist Mathieu van Bellen has performed countless concerts across Europe, Asia, and the USA. He has frequently appeared on television and radio and has played in renowned venues such as the Purcell Room and the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Mathias Halvorsen is a critically acclaimed and versatile pianist, internationally active both as a soloist and chamber musician. He is also an accomplished composer, having written two operas: Dracula (2017) and And Then There Were None (2023).