What A Girl Wants

If you think the wanton women, violence and implied necrophilia is getting out of hand on television, you'd better not hide out at the opera this evening. Richard Strauss' Salomé, inspired by Oscar Wilde's lascivious French play of the same name — and based on the Bible, please remember — is the second production of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis' new season, and ain't nothin' implied in this baby. Salomé (Kelly Kaduce) is Herod's daughter, and she wants what her, um, heart wants. As in, right now. And what she wants is Jokanaan, known to you and me as John the Baptist, who's currently a religious prisoner in Daddy's dungeon. Salomé tries everything to tempt Jokanaan: flattery, compliments on his white skin (shocking lack of sun in underground jails, you know), lusty gazes, the works. But Jokanaan's faith is inviolate. So Salomé goes all in, and performs the Dance of the Seven Veils — a dance that leaves very little to the imagination. It's a stirring, gorgeous tale of lust, faith, and impetuousness gone wild. Opera Theatre of Saint Louis presents Salomé at 8 p.m. at the Loretto-Hilton Center on Webster University's campus (130 Edgar Road; www.experienceopera.org or 314-968-0644).Tickets are $25 to $117. There are six additional performances in repertory through Sunday, June 28.
Sat., May 30, 8 p.m.; Wed., June 3, 8 p.m.; Fri., June 5, 8 p.m.; Thu., June 11, 8 p.m.; Sat., June 20, 1 p.m.; Wed., June 24, 1 p.m.; Sun., June 28, 7 p.m., 2009