Salome
Salome
April 7, 8 & 14, 16
Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 PM, Sunday at 2:00 PM
Salome, Op. 54, is an opera in one act by composer Richard Strauss. The libretto is Hedwig Lachmann’s German translation of the 1891 French play Salomé by Oscar Wilde, edited by the composer.
The opera is famous (at the time of its premiere, infamous) for its “Dance of the Seven Veils.”
The production in Billings is accompanied by piano and sung in German with English text projected above the stage.
The opera’s length is 90 minutes.
The Story:
The opera begins in the Palace of Herod. Narraboth, captain of the guard, gazes at Princess Salome, with whom he loves. Jochanaan, an imprisoned prophet, is held within the cistern. Salome hears Jochanaan cursing her mother, Queen Herodias. Salome charms Narraboth into bringing the prophet to her. When he is brought forth, Jochanaan yells prophecies concerning the king and queen. Salome is overcome with longing for the prophet, and she makes three requests: to caress his skin, to feel his hair, and to kiss his lips; all three requests are rejected by the prophet. Consumed by jealousy to hear this, Narraboth commits suicide before Jochanaan is returned to the cistern below the palace.
When the king and queen enter, Herod slips on the blood of Narraboth, causing him to hallucinate. When he awakes, he finds himself madly in love with Salome, who immediately rebukes him. When Jochanaan taunts the incestuous marriage of the king and queen, Herodias demands that he be silenced, to which the fearful Herod refuses. The king makes of his daughter three requests: that she eat with him, that she drinks with him, and that she dances for him; the first two are rejected, but the request for a dance is honored when Herod offers to give Salome any price that she asks, even if that were half of his kingdom. Salome performs the Dance of the Seven Veils. When she has finished, she states her price must be the head of Jochanaan, presented on a silver platter. While Herodias is delighted at this, Herod tries to offer several treasures, including the sacred veil of the temple.
Salome’s mention in the Bible
There are two Salome’s mentioned in the Bible. One righteous and one unrighteous. The Opera is based on the second Salome. The unrighteous Salome is not mentioned by name in the Bible, but we read about what she did in Mark 6. This Salome was part of the Herod dynasty, and her family history was convoluted: Herod Antipas (the “King Herod” of Mark 6:14) had divorced his wife and married Herodias, who was the wife of his half-brother Philip (Mark 6:17). However, Herodias herself was the daughter of another of Herod’s half-brothers, Aristobulus, making her not only the wife but the niece of both Philip and Herod—and a sister-in-law of Herod. Salome was Herodias’s daughter through Philip. Thus, Salome was the daughter (and grandniece) of Philip and the stepdaughter (and grandniece by marriage) of Herod; she was also both daughter and grandniece to her own mother. When Herodias came to live with Herod Antipas, Salome came with her. This royal family is significant in Bible history because it figures in the story of the death of John the Baptist. John the Baptist had publicly criticized King Herod for his divorce and remarriage to his niece/sister-in-law, and Herodias was enraged. Herod Antipas had John thrown into prison to placate his wife/niece/sister-in-law, Herodias.
John the Baptist’s fate was decided when Herodias’s daughter (Salome) danced for Herod at his birthday banquet. Pleased with the girl’s performance, Herod offered her a rash boon. Salome went to Herodias to ask her advice on what the gift should be, and Herodias told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Salome obediently asked Herod for this grisly gift, and, though the Bible says Herod was grieved, he honored his promise. John was beheaded in prison, and his head was given to Herodias’s daughter who took it to her mother (Mark 6:21–28). Though Salome is not mentioned by name in the biblical record, the historian Josephus tells us her name.
Cast
Director / Jokanaan – Douglas Nagel
Billings native Doug Nagel graduated from the University of Wyoming and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Nagel was one of the first Opera San José Resident Artists, mentored by opera star Irene Dalis.
Nagel sang over 80 baritone roles from Count to Scarpia to Dracula to Dutchman to Jochanaan. Opera companies included Mobile, Rostock, Germany, Columbus, Palo Alto, Buffalo, Virginia, Philadelphia, Arizona, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Cedar Rapids, Eugene, Idaho, Las Vegas, El Paso, and Des Moines Metro, to name some. No stranger to symphonic works, Nagel was a favorite of Maestro Kent Nagano and the Berkeley Symphony, singing Doktor Faust, Oedipus Rex and Das klangende Lied. Nagel sang 5 concerts with the Helena Symphony, most recently in Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand.
Herod – Scott Wichael
Praised for his expressive voice and versatile stage presence, tenor Scott Wichael has appeared on stages throughout the United States with a repertoire of over 35 roles.
Upcoming performances include the Tenor Soloist in Shubert’s Mass in G with the Wichita Symphony, Monostatos in Die Zauberlöte with North Carolina Opera, Raphael in Stewart Copeland’s oratorio Satan’s Fall with Pepperdine University, Mime in Das Rheingold with the Miami Music Festival Wagner Institute and Herod in Salomé with Rimrock Opera.
Herodias – Kimberly Gratland James
Kimberly Gratland James, Mezzo-Soprano, enjoys an active performance career in concert, recital, and operatic venues. Ms. James’ tone has been described as “well-rounded,” “deep,rich,” and “resonant.” Her performances have been noted for vocal strength, nuance,musicality, and convincing dramatic portrayals. She made her Lincoln Center debut in 2003 in John Adams’ Grand Pianola Music with John Adams conducting the London Sinfonietta and previously performed the piece with the New World Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Salome – Sarah Waggoner
Sarah Waggoner makes her title role debut in Salome with Nova Center for the Arts/Rimrock Opera Foundation.
Miss Waggoner graduated with a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance from Pensacola Christian College, Florida. Excited to work with NOVA once again, she will bring energy and passion to the role of Salome. Sarah has sung leading roles with NOVA including Mabel in Pirates of Penzance and Ernestine in Monsieur Choufleuri. The Billings resident is devoted to bringing opera to life for her community. Miss Waggoner graduated with a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance in 2016 from Pensacola Christian College, in Pensacola, Florida.
Narraboth – Christian Quevedo
Christian Quevedo is an artist whose versatile skills as a singer and actor have made me him highly visible in oratorio, opera, choral work and as a soloist. Noted for countless musical endeavors and performances with The California Desert Choir, Coachella Valley Symphony and The McCallum theatre stage.
Page – Ana Rangel Ortiz
Soprano, Ana Rangel Ortiz, holds a master’s degree from University of Redlands and a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles, both with an emphasis in vocal performance. Currently, she sings for the United Methodist Church in Palm Springs as Lead Singer and with the “Met to Broadway” troupe in the Palm Springs area. Ana is scheduled to perform the role of the Page in Salome, at NOVA Performing Arts Center in Montana in April 2023, and the role of Nella in Gianni Schicchi in Fall 2023.
Jordan Shawver, baritone, Soldier & Nazarene
Jordan Shawver is a native of Billings, Montana. Mr. Shawver graduated from Skyview High School and studied voice with Professor Doug Nagel at MSUB. Mr. Shawver attended Interlochen Arts Academy where he received the outstanding award. Jordan received superior ratings for his vocal performances at district and state music festivals. He won first place in the high school division of Montana’s National Assoc. of Teachers of Singing competition and toured Europe with the Northern Ambassadors of Music. Jordan also won second place in the Grant Teton Music Festival Scholarship Finals. Mr. Shawver’s theater credits include Shrek Jr., Music Man, Evita, Shrek, Into the Woods Jr., Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of Penzance, and Elf the Musical. Jordan made his operatic debut at Nova Center for the Performing Arts as Figaro in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, later singing the title role in Offenbach’s Mr. Choufleuri. Mr. Shawver currently attends classes and studies voice with Dr. Daren Small at MSUB.
Additional Cast
Executioner – William Stearns
Cappadocian – Meghan Kilroy
Supernumeraries – Precious McKenzie, Daphne Stearns, Debra Gloor, Mary Ann Connors, and Jane Van Dyk
Production
Choreographer – Emerald Hart
Emerald Hart, a vocalist born and raised in Billings Montana, is excited to be working with Rimrock Opera and NOVA Center for the Performing Arts again. She has been a part of the performing arts community for 20 years.
Emerald has been teaching Hip Hop and Theatre at CDS the Edge Performing Arts Center and acting, assistant directing and choreographing in multiple plays, musicals, and operas at the Billings Studio Theater, NOVA, and Rimrock Opera. She has continued to study voice.
Emerald currently is a Choir Teacher at Belgrade Middle School and holds degrees in Music Education and Music Performance with a focus on Voice.
Costumes – Glenda Brauneis
Glenda is very passionate about period costumes. She designs and produces costumes using imagination, creativity and frugality. Her theater experience includes costuming, acting and directing at NOVA Center for the Performing Arts, other local theaters as well as theaters and companies throughout the US. This is the 4th production Glenda has costumed for Rimrock Opera, after Blodwen, Pagliacci and Carmen’s Tragedy.
Additional Production
Pianist – Tim Schoessler
Stage Director – Doug Nagel
Production Team Leaders – Lucinda & Steve Butler
Assistant Director/Stage Manager/Props/Production Coordinator – Dodie Rife
Supertitles – Emma King
Lights & Sound – Davvy Schanno
Sets – William Stearns
Vocal coach – Dulais Rhys
