A silver moon lightens the terrace of Herodes´ palace and focuses on the bizarre shadows of an old cistern and a mighty stairway. From the background light and sound of society´s escapism and the smell of luscious food.
Wilde´s poetic play wakens the sensational, the scandalous, the erotic element. Something happens upon the characters. The audience is captured by the corrupt world of this decadent court, drawn to the story for its sensual excess, the passion - and is at the same time repulsed by the morbidity, the pathological insanity.

On a hot summernight the tetrarch Herodes Antipas is giving a dinner in the banquet hall of his palace. Two soldiers are commenting the scene on the open terrace. Suddenly Salome, the young princess, is escaping the lascivious looks of her stepfather Herodes. From the depth of the old cistern she hears the voice of the imprisoned Jochanaan, who prays for redemption and accuses Salome´s mother Herodias for being sinfull. The princess is taken over by curiosity and fascination and demands to see the Prophet. The solders refuse first, but Narraboth cannot resist her blandishments and is soon persuaded to bring forth Jochanaan. The tall stature of the Prophet wakens wild desire in the young princess and she tries with her seductive powers to make him look at her and kiss her on the mouth. Jochanaan only denounces, warns her to seek redemption.

Repulsed by her actions he curses her and returns to the cistern. The refused Salome is overwhelmed by her demonical wantings and her desire for revenge. The
Tetrarch enters the scene, followed by his wife and the dinner guests, in search of Salome. Filled by his own erotic desires, he asks Salome to dance for him - in return he guarantees to fullfill her any request she may make. Salome dances the Dance of the Seven Veils. Under the applause of her mother she asks for the head of Jochanaan. The Tetrarch is devastated, as he - in his superstitious way -respects the life of the holy man, and offers her many worthy treasures instead. The princess remains stubbborn and finally Herodes gives in. Jochanaan is executed, his head delivered to Salome on a silver plate. In ecstasy she pours out her feelings of desire and revenge and does not quite understand yet that the Prophet is a dead man. Finally she kisses him on the mouth. Herodes, full of fear and disgust stops the scene by ordering his soldiers to crush Salome beneath their shields.

PRODUCTION OF THE SALZBURGER FESTSPIELE - PREMIERED 1992

Catherine Malfitano ist denn auch eine gänzlich unheroinenhafte Salome, eine andere Lulu, leichtfüßig, ballerinenhaft behende, narzißtisch durch und durch, eine Sylphide, und doch auch durchtrieben, clever energisch beim Familienpoker um den Kopf... die Stimme klingt schön, leuchtend, geschmeidig und gelenkig, doch auch für die Ausbrüche und den Schlußgesang hat sie Kraft und Reserve. (FAZ, Gerhard R. Koch)