Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-29

have already produced It. Everywhere
u has met with sensational success. The
Berlin reception sealed It's triumph
Where is the opera that has made such
"A record IN It's first Year, on Dec. 26
Strauss viii direct "Salome" In Turin.
Italy: In January Il will be staged In
Milan at the La Scala theater; later In
the winter at Paris and IN New York.
When Richard Strauss first read Os-
car Wide's "Salome" he was strongly
impressed with It's possibilities as H
music drama The story is not pleas
ing because II deals with the baser pas
sions of mankind. Everyone Is familiar
with the Biblical account of the be-
heading OF John the Baptist. Briefly
Oscar Wilde's version Is as follows.
The opening scene Is a great terrace
IN the palace Of Herod A few soldiers
are leaning over the balcony. On one
side of the stage is a large staircase,
at the back Is an old cistern which Is
tho dungeon OF iokanaan--John the
Baptist. The moon, which is shining
brightly, In an important piece OF stage
property because the various comments
on II portray the moods OF the charac-
tiers. Thus 20 the young captain who
loves Salome the moon seems like n
beautiful princess. The nervous page OF
Herodlas sees in It woman rising
from the tomb Herod observes In Il a
drunken woman. To Salome, who is
yet chaste, the pale luminnty appears
as an emblem OF vrginty. Herodlas
simply declares the moon Is but the
moon Salomo, early In the play, leaves
the ballroom to escape the lustful eyes
Of Herod. Hearing then the voice OF
Iokanaan she demands that he be
brought before her. Salome is fascin-
ated by his appearance The prophet
harshly repels her advances but the
princess becomes so suddenly mad With
love that she passionately says. There
is nothing In the world so red as thy
mouth. Suffer me 10 kiss thy mouth
lokanaan replies, Never daughter OF
Babylon. Daughter of SOdom' Never"
After vain attempts 10 win by hattery
and every device. his affection. she de-
clares ln rage, ~ win kiss thy mouth.
iokanaan, | viii kiss thy mouth" Dur
Ing this remarkable interview the Syr-
Ian captain In ht ~ jealousy Kills
himself. As John the Baptist returns to
his dungeon he says, II win not look
AZ thee, Thou art acoursed, Salome,
thou art accursed.
Herod. who now enters. is iu at ease.
for he has slipped in the blood of the
young Syrian who killed himself, and
he imagines he hears the
sound Of mighty wings IN
the air iIe Is greatly troubled
over the prophecies " lokanaau. fear
ing that he is a man of God. Herod
is so enraptured over the beauty Of
salome that he feels nothing I'M the
world can please him but TO see Sa.
lone dance. He promises her and
sWeors with an oath that he win give
her anything she desires oven To the
hall OF his kingdom IL only she VIII
dance for him,
salone asks. "You swear it. Tet.
rarch?'
Herod-I swear ii, Salomc.
Herodias urges her daughter not to
dance. But Salome answers. 81 WIN
dance for you retrarch.'
Salome dances the dance of the scyen
wells and when she rs finished Her1d
asks her what she desires.
Saiome replies, u would that they
presently bring me iu "a silver charger
the head of Iokanoan."
TINS pleases Barodas bat greatly
hlsturbs HefoG. VINO then offers her
bis most prlzed Jewels hfter repeat-
ed EFFORTS TO change her request. ne
finally gives The order for the execu.
tinner to carry ont Salome's mstful
wish, aud he sinks back m his chair
exhausted
The eNecuUouer descends into the
clsterh and presently Is seen his huge
black arm coming forth from il bear