• Conductor:
    Emmanuel Plasson
  • Director:
    Shawna Lucey*
  • Salome:
    Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs*
  • Herod:
    Mark Duffin*
  • Jochanaan:
    Nathan Berg*
  • Herodias:
    Daveda Karanas*
  • Narraboth:
    Josh Weeker*
  • Page:
    Blythe I. Kelsey
  • 1st Soldier:
    Jamie Offenbach
  • *HOT Debut

At King Herod’s palace, the young captain Narraboth admires the beautiful princess Salome, who sits at the banquet table with her stepfather, Herod, and his court. A page warns Narraboth that something terrible might happen if he continues to stare at the princess, but Narraboth won’t listen. The voice of Jochanaan is heard from the cistern, where he is kept prisoner, proclaiming the coming of the Messiah, and two soldiers comment on the prophet’s kindness and Herod’s fear of him.

Suddenly Salome appears, disgusted with Herod’s advances toward her and bored by his guests. Jochanaan’s voice is heard again, cursing the sinful life of Salome’s mother, Herodias. Salome asks about the prophet. The soldiers refuse to allow her to speak with him, but Narraboth, unable to resist her, orders that Jochanaan be brought forth from the cistern. At first terrified by the sight of the holy man, Salome quickly becomes fascinated by his appearance, begging him to let her touch his hair, then his skin, and finally his lips. Jochanaan forcefully rejects her. Narraboth, who can’t bear Salome’s desire for another man, stabs himself. Salome, not noticing him and beside herself with excitement, continues to beg for Jochanaan’s kiss. The prophet tells her to save herself by seeking Christ and retreats into the cistern, cursing Salome.

Herod appears from the palace, looking for the princess and commenting on the strange look of the moon. When he slips in Narraboth’s blood, he suddenly panics and has hallucinations. Herodias angrily dismisses his fantasies and asks him to go back inside with her, but Herod’s attentions are now focused on Salome. He offers her food and wine, but she rejects his advances. From the cistern, Jochanaan resumes his tirades against Herodias, who demands that Herod turn the prophet over to the Jews. Herod refuses, maintaining that Jochanaan is a holy man and has seen God. His words spark an argument among the Jews concerning the true nature of God, and two Nazarenes talk about the miracles of Jesus. As Jochanaan continues to accuse her, Herodias demands that he be silenced.

Herod asks Salome to dance for him. She refuses, but when he promises to give her anything she wants, she agrees once she has made him swear to keep his word. Ignoring her mother’s pleas not to, Salome dances seductively, removing her clothes. The delighted king wants to know what reward she would like, and she innocently asks for the head of Jochanaan on a silver platter. Horrified, the king refuses, while Herodias laughs approvingly at Salome’s choice. Herod offers other rewards, but Salome insists and reminds Herod of his oath. The king finally gives in. As the executioner descends into the cistern, the princess anxiously and impatiently awaits her prize. When the prophet’s head is brought to her, she passionately addresses Jochanaan as if he were still alive and finally kisses his lips. The terrified Herod, outraged and disgusted at Salome’s behavior, orders the soldiers to kill her.

(based on the synopsis by The Metropolitan Opera)

She stops at nothing to get what she wants... and she wants it all

Hawai‘i Opera Theatre is honored to be a valued part of the community, which includes our patrons, artists, staff and collaborators, and we take your health and well-being very seriously.  Like companies across the globe, we have been monitoring developments pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic, a situation that has been changing by the hour as we learn of new cases, more deaths and changing messaging from our elected officials.

On March 16, 2020, Mayor Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu announced that no gatherings of more than 50 people would be permitted on any city property, including the Blaisdell Center, through the month of April, following recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So it is with deepest regret that we are cancelling the performances of Richard Strauss’ Salome scheduled at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall on April 24 and 26, 2020.

In the weeks to come, the HOT box office will be contacting subscribers and single ticket buyers who purchased tickets through HOT. If you purchased a ticket from the HOT box office or at HawaiiOpera.Org, we will be mailing a formal letter with more information on how to donate your tickets or receive a refund. All other refunds will be issued at the point of sale.

_ _ _

Who says opera has to be long?

Desires collide as biblical themes, eroticism, and a thirst for blood are transformed in Strauss’ take on Oscar Wilde’s probing psychological drama. This powerful one-act opera embodies early-20th-century expressionism, with the title character depicted as the incarnation of seductive lust. The story centers on a tangled triangle between the persecuted John the Baptist, King Herod, and the monarch’s pathological daughter, Salome, and no one is left unscathed. Salome is considered to be Strauss’s masterpiece, and even after the more than a century since its debut it hasn’t lost its ability to shock and excite audiences. HOT’s unique semi-staged version is sure to keep you on the edge of your seats!

The cast features a quartet of HOT debuts: soprano Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs, noted for her “rapturous sound” and “charismatic stage presence,” takes on the title role opposite Canadian bass-baritone Nathan Berg as the object of her desire, Jochanaan. Tenor Mark Duffin stars as her lust-filled step-father Herod and Greek-American mezzo-soprano Daveda Karanas takes the stage as her manipulative mother Herodias.

The production will be led by HOT Principal Conductor/Artistic Director Emmanuel Plasson and directed by Shawna Lucey, in her HOT debut.

-Great for: History Buffs, High-Art Junkies, & people who don’t have three hours to sit-

Performance Schedule

  • April 24, Friday, 7:30pm
  • April 26, Sunday, 4:00pm

All performances at the Blaisdell Concert Hall

Sung in German with English translations projected above the stage.

Approximately 90 minutes

Tickets

Pricing

    Orchestra Level
  • A - $135
  • OR/OL - $90
  • B - $90
  • C - $63
  • D - $34
  • Seating Chart

    Balcony Level
  • A - $135
  • B - $90
  • C - $63
  • D - N/A

Get Tickets

  • Call the Box Office:
    (808) 596-7858 or 1-800-836-7372
  • Call the Main Office: (808) 596-7372
  • Or Buy Tickets Here:
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Pre-Show Features

  • Show Day
    at the Ward Lanai, Blaisdell Concert Hall
    1st lecture: 60 minutes before curtain
    2nd lecture: 30 minutes before curtain