Salome: Backlash over nude scene fails to materialise as biblical epic rapturously received in Belfast

Controversial Richard Strauss opera Salome

By Lindsay Fergus

It had looked like a last-minute decision to include a nude scene in the controversial opera Salome was going to be a step too far for Northern Ireland audiences.

But last night, days after theatre-goers had been warned the Northern Ireland Opera production contained nudity, people attending the Grand Opera House in Belfast were left wondering what all the fuss had been about.

Even members of the Free Presbyterian Church, who had earlier this week criticised the move to feature a naked woman in the biblical epic, turned a blind eye.

Debut opera-goers Joanne Peake and Peter McAllister from Belfast described the furore as "funny" while Suzanne Houng Lee from Carrickfergus, also attending her first opera, said the outcry was "typical of Northern Ireland".

Opera veteran Maureen De Forge from Co Offaly explained that the nudity was "in keeping with the story".

Instead members of the audience were left speechless by the gruesomeness of the performance, and in particular the beheading of John the Baptist. Although commentator Malachi O'Doherty described the opera as amazing, he said others had walked out of the show.

"It was really an incredibly shocking performance... and the least shocking part was the nudity," he explained.

The opera fan said the most erotic scene was not when Salome was standing naked and humiliated at the end of the famous Dance of the Seven Veils.

"Salome standing naked as a statuette at the end of her dance wasn't shocking, but drenched in blood and rubbing herself up with the head of John the Baptist was," he said.

He continued that some people were uncomfortable with the beheading when the form of torture adopted by IS was featuring so prominently in the news.

Giselle Allen and Robert Hayward star in the Grand Opera House production of Salome

"Some people were quite disturbed by the beheading - a couple of people left early because they really could not take it."

Mr Doherty described the star of the show, Belfast-born Giselle Allen, who was making her role debut as Salome, as incredible.

And opera fans have echoed those sentiments. Hugh Canning posted on Twitter following the show: "Personal triumph for Giselle Allen at the close of @NiOpera's Salome, richly deserved. It would be mad to miss her and it!

"I hope one of the London orchestras will give Giselle Allen the chance to sing Salome's final scene in concert before long."

And John Johnston tweeted: "Giselle Allen totally in command vocally and dramatically."

Based on the play by Oscar Wilde, Salome is the princess who dances for Herod in return for her heart's desire.

Although Herod offers her one half of his kingdom in return for performing the famous Dance of the Seven Veils, she demands the most shocking payment - the head of John the Baptist.

The second performance of Salome is on Sunday 8 Feb at Grand Opera House, Belfast

Review  

Background

The potent combination of this famous biblical story, the eroticism of Salome's famous Dance of the Seven Veils, and the bloodthirsty denouement initially caused the opera to be banned in several countries, but with its high drama and gloriously romantic score, it is now a well-established part of the operatic repertoire. Oliver Mears' new production of Salome is designed by Annemarie Woods, with Nicholas Chalmers conducting the Ulster Orchestra. The cast is led by Giselle Allen, Michael Colvin and Robert Hayward.

Further reading