NBC OPERA THEATRE: SALOME (TV)
Summary
One in this series of NBC Opera Company productions. This production, the final of the fifth season, presents an English-language adaptation of Richard Strauss' opera about Salome, the bewitching Judean princess at whose request John the Baptist was beheaded. This production of the opera -- originally adapted from the play by Oscar Wilde with a German libretto by Hedwig Lachmann -- features a translation by associate producer Charles Polacheck and the NBC Opera Department. Announcer Robert Denton introduces the opera, which he notes does not "pretend to historical accuracy" or portray the characters as they are "recorded in the bible." The opera opens on the captain Narraboth and the young Page (acted by Sal Mineo and sung by Carol Jones) who warns Narraboth that his obsession with Salome will result in tragedy. Both the guards and the off-stage voice of the prophet Jokanaan (John the Baptist) echo these portents. Salome enters, and hearing the prophet's words of doom (which, not incidentally, point to her mother, the wife of King Herod), persuades Narraboth to let her see the man who is imprisoned below. Jokanaan, acted by John Cassavetes and sung by Norman Atkins in another example of dual casting, emerges from his cell with critical words.
Despite his chastisements, Salome is attracted to the prophet, and she ignores the pleas of Narraboth, who kills himself for unrequited love of her. But when Jokanann rebuffs her attempts to kiss him, she is angered and begins to plot her revenge. Enter King Herod, who is clearly fascinated with Salome, but also concerned about what the death of the captain and an ill wind portend. Herodias, dismissive of any signs, dwells on Herod's unseemly attentions to Salome and Jokanaan's disparaging comments. Meanwhile, the Hebrews argue over the prophet's claims to have seen the Lord, while the Nazarenes testify that they indeed believe the Messiah has come. Salome remains aloof, unwilling to approach Herod who desires her company, until he promises her anything she asks for on a silver platter if she will dance for him. Salome, seeing her opportunity, performs the sensuous "Dance of the Seven Veils." (The dance, performed by Carmen Gutierrez, is skillfully interwoven with Malbin's performance.) At the end of her dance, Salome asks for the head of Jokanaan, and Herod is forced to grant her wish, delivering it to her on the silver platter. Salome, who sings her aria to the severed head as if it's owner still lived, ultimately takes her denied kiss (discreetly implied). As the opera concludes, Herod proclaims Salome a monster, orders she be killed, and sets the guards upon her.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: May 8, 1954 4:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:24:40
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:77431
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1950-1966
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Samuel Chotzinoff … Producer
- Charles Polacheck … Associate Producer, Translation by
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Peter Herman Adler … Direction (Misc.), Musical and Artistic Director
- John Boxer … Production (Misc.), Costumes by
- William Molyneaux … Production (Misc.), Production designed by
- Bob Hanna … Production (Misc.), Technical director
- George Voutsas … Production (Misc.), Audio director
- Oscar Wilde … Based on the play by
- Richard Strauss … Composer
- Hedwig Lachmann … Librettist
- John Butler … Choreographer
- Felix Popper … Music (Misc. Credits), Musical assistant
- Leonard Kastle … Music (Misc. Credits), Musical assistant
- Carmen Gutierrez … Dancer
- Robert Denton … Announcer
- Andrew McKinley … Singer, Cast, Herod
- Lorna Sydney … Singer, Cast, Herodias
- Elaine Malbin … Singer, Cast, Salome
- John Cassavetes … Cast, Jokanaan
- Norman Atkins … Singer, Cast, Jokanaan
- Davis Cunningham … Singer, Cast, Narraboth
- Sal Mineo … Cast, Page
- Carol Jones … Singer, Cast, Page
- Nathaniel Schub … Singer, Cast, a Hebrew
- Robert Holland … Singer, Cast, a Hebrew
- Howard Fried … Singer, Cast, a Hebrew
- David Williams … Singer, Cast, a Hebrew
- Lee Cass … Singer, Cast, a Nazarene
- William Lewis … Singer, Cast, a Nazarene
- Kalem Kermoyan … Singer, Cast, 1st Soldier
- Robert Leffler … Singer, Cast, 2nd Soldier
- Francis Manachino … Singer, Cast, Cappadocian
- John N. Johnson … Singer, Cast, a slave
- P. Jay Sidney … Cast, Executioner