''Hérodiade'' is an

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

in four acts by

Jules Massenet Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (; 12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are ''Manon'' (1884 ...

to a French

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

Paul Milliet Paul Milliet (14 February 1848 – 21 November 1924) was a French playwright and librettist of the Parisian Belle Époque. His opera librettos include Jules Massenet's ''Hérodiade'' (1881) and ''Werther'' (1892), Alfred Bruneau's ''Kérim'' ( ...

and Henri Grémont, based on the novella ''Hérodias'' (1877) by

Gustave Flaubert Gustave Flaubert ( , ; ; 12 December 1821 – 8 May 1880) was a French novelist. He has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country and abroad. According to the literary theorist Kornelije Kvas, "in Flaubert, realis ...

. It was first performed at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in

Brussels Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...

on 19 December 1881. The

is a retelling of the story of

John the Baptist John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...

Salome Salome (; , related to , "peace"; ), also known as Salome III, was a Jews, Jewish princess, the daughter of Herod II and princess Herodias. She was granddaughter of Herod the Great and stepdaughter of Herod Antipas. She is known from the New T ...

Herod Antipas Herod Antipas (, ''Hērṓidēs Antípas''; ) was a 1st-century ruler of Galilee and Perea. He bore the title of tetrarch ("ruler of a quarter") and is referred to as both "Herod the Tetrarch" and "King Herod" in the New Testament. He was a s ...

and

Herodias Herodias (; , ''Hērōidiás''; c. 15 BC – after AD 39) was a princess of the Herodian dynasty of Judea, Judaea during the time of the Roman Empire. Christian writings connect her with the Beheading of John the Baptist, execution of John the Ba ...

, but is strikingly less psychological and bloody than

Richard Strauss Richard Georg Strauss (; ; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer and conductor best known for his Tone poems (Strauss), tone poems and List of operas by Richard Strauss, operas. Considered a leading composer of the late Roman ...

's ''

'', which is based on a text by

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish author, poet, and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential playwright ...

. The opera premiered in Brussels because Auguste Vaucorbeil, Manager of the Paris Opera house refused to stage the work; "I do like your music," he had said to Massenet, "but as for the libretto, you badly need an author who knows how to build the skeleton of a play." Massenet also created a ballet suite derived from the opera.

Performance history

The opera reached Paris at the Théâtre des Nations on 1 February 1884, and the final performance of the run on 13 March featured the three De Reszkes; Jean (Jean), Édouard (Phanuel), and Josephine (Salomé). It was produced at the Théâtre-Italien in 1903 for 43 performances, then at the Gaîté-Lyrique in 1904, 1911 and 1912. The Italian premiere was at

La Scala La Scala (, , ; officially , ) is a historic opera house in Milan, Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as (, which previously was Santa Maria della Scala, Milan, a church). The premiere performa ...

on 23 February 1882.Irvine D. ''Massenet: a chronicle of his life and times.'' Amadeus Press, Portland, 1997.

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

In a courtyard outside Hérode's palace in

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

. After a short introduction merchants are seen arguing; they are calmed by Phanuel who urges co-operation with the Romans. Salomé enters, desperately seeking her mother, who she does not know but who abandoned her years ago. Salomé is also looking for the prophet Jean with whom she had found comfort in her absence from the city. Hérode has a passion for Salomé and comes from the palace. He is joined by his wife Hérodiade who asks him to act against Jean, who has insulted her; when Hérode, aware of Jean's following, refuses, she vows to be avenged by herself. As she curses the prophet, Jean himself enters and the royal pair withdraw in fear. Salomé vows her love to Jean but he only speaks of a greater love, and new faith.

Act 2

''First tableau: Hérode's chambers'' Slaves dance in order to divert the sleepless Hérode. Hérode next takes a philtre which gives him visions of his Salomé. Phanuel tells the king that the people are calling for the Messiah and acclaim Jean. Hérode however is sure he will defeat the Romans and win his subjects over again. ''Second tableau: The palace in Jerusalem'' Hérode calls the people to arms against Jerusalem's Roman masters. The Roman consul Vitellius appears and promises to respect the faith of the Israelites and open the temple. Jean, preceded by a joyful crowd and followed by Salomé passes by. Hérodiade notices the reaction of her husband at the sight of the young woman and accuses Jean of wanting to seize power.

Act 3

''First tableau: The house of Phanuel'' Phanuel asks Heaven to say whether Jean is mortal or divine. Hérodiade visits the priest and consults Phanuel who foresees great suffering, while the queen refuses to recognize her daughter in the young woman. ''Second tableau: The Holy Temple'' Jean has been arrested. Salomé arrives, exhausted, at the prison. Hérode wishes to release Jean in exchange for help in getting the Galileans to help him fight the Romans. Seeing Salomé, he declares his love but she rejects him, saying that she loves one who is greater and stronger than he. Not knowing who she means, Hérode threatens Jean and Salomé with death. The priests intercede with Vitellius and ask him to condemn Jean, but the consul gives responsibility for the execution to Hérode. Jean refuses to assist the king. Salomé asks to share her fate with that of the prophet – at this Hérode realises whom she loves and condemns them both to death.

Act 4

''First tableau: A subterranean vault'' Jean, awaiting death in prison questions his soul. Salomé joins him. Jean is led away to execution while Salomé is taken to the king, who has decided to pardon her. ''Second tableau: The great hall in the palace'' Dances celebrate the Roman victory. Salomé begs Hérodiade to allow her to die alongside Jean, as it was he who looked after her when her mother abandoned her. Hérodiade remains silent. The executioner announces the death of Jean. Salomé draws a dagger and tries to kill the queen, who cries out that she is her mother. In despair, Salomé stabs herself and curses Hérodiade.

Noted arias

*Act 1 – Salomé: "Il est doux, il est bon" *Act 2 – Hérodiade: "Ne me refuse pas" *Act 2 – Hérode: "Vision fugitive" *Act 3 – Salomé: "C'est Dieu que l'on te nomme" *Act 4 – Jean: "Adieu donc, vains objets qui nous charment sur terre"

Ballet suite

Massenet also created a ballet suite (his Suite No.1), based on the dances in the work.

Recordings

*1961: Jésus Etcheverry conducting the Orchestre Lyrique de Paris with Michèle Le Bris (Salomé), Denise Scharley (Hérodiade), Guy Chauvet (Jean), Robert Massard (Hérode), and Adrien Legros (Phanuel).(Accord Musidisc) (excerpts) *1963: Georges Prêtre conducting the Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris with Régine Crespin (Salomé), Rita Gorr (Hérodiade), Albert Lance (Jean), Michel Dens (Hérode), and Jacques Mars (Phanuel).(La Voix de son Maître) (excerpts) *1995: Michel Plasson conducting the Choeur et Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse with Cheryl Studer (Salomé), Nadine Denize (Hérodiade), Ben Heppner (Jean), Thomas Hampson (Hérode), and José van Dam (Phanuel).(EMI) *1995:

Valery Gergiev Valery Abisalovich Gergiev (, ; ; born 2 May 1953) is a Russian conducting, conductor and opera company director. He is currently general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre and of the Bolshoi Theatre and artistic director o ...

conducting the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus with

Renée Fleming Renée Lynn Fleming (born February 14, 1959) is an American soprano and actress, known for performances in opera, concerts, recordings, theater, film, and at major public occasions. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Fleming has been nom ...

(Salomé), Dolora Zajick (Hérodiade),

Plácido Domingo José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, ...

(Jean), Juan Pons (Hérode), Kenneth Cox (Phanuel). ( Sony Classical)

Ballet suite

* 1999: Jean-Yves Ossonce, conducting the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. (

Naxos Naxos (; , ) is a Greek island belonging to the Cyclades island group. It is the largest island in the group. It was an important centre during the Bronze Age Cycladic Culture and in the Ancient Greek Archaic Period. The island is famous as ...

8.553124) * 2013(?): Patrick Gallois conducting the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra. (Naxos 8.573123).

References

Notes This opera is featured in a scene at the Paris Opera in the 1976 movie '' Marathon Man''. Sources * {{DEFAULTSORT:Herodiade Operas by Jules Massenet French-language operas Operas 1881 operas Opera world premieres at La Monnaie Operas set in the Middle East Operas based on novels Operas based on works by Gustave Flaubert Cultural depictions of John the Baptist Operas based on the Bible Operas based on real people Operas set in the 1st century Cultural depictions of Salome Cultural depictions of Herod Antipas