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The Philadelphians and Opera Philadelphia on WRTI: Strauss' SALOME, Feb 19, 1 PM

This Sunday at 1 pm, it’s a memorable re-broadcast from 2014 of the fast-paced, one-act opera Salome. Among the most important musical works of the 20th century, it stands out for its revolutionary use of a large-scale orchestra and virtuosic singers, as much as for its graphic depiction of this deeply psychological tale. It's performed in a historic, joint production by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia.

Strauss' brilliant use of the orchestra and soloists are as demanding today as the day Salome premiered. The shocking tale is depicted through a virtuosic score of massive proportions. The Philadelphia Orchestra, and soloists Camilla Nylund, soprano, Birgit Remmert, mezzo-soprano, John Mac Master, tenor, Alan Held, bass-baritone, and Andrew Staples, tenor, offer a rare chance to hear the brilliant Strauss score in full force. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

At the time of this performance in May, 2014, who among us knew that Yannick would be named music director of the Metropolitan Opera? As it so happened, this riveting performance of Strauss’s electrifying opera gave Philadelphia audiences a glimpse of what was to come!

As a side note, beginning in just a few weeks on March 2, and continuing for three more performances on the 3rd, 4th and 7th, Yannick will again indulge his passion for opera with Bartok’s spine-tingling one-act opera, Bluebeard’s Castle, at Verizon Hall. Joining the Fabulous Philadelphians, Michelle DeYoung sings the role of Judith, and John Relyea is Bluebeard.

In anticipation of these Philadelphia Orchestra performances, we’re proud to rebroadcast Strauss’s Salome, from two-and-a-half years ago. If you missed hearing it the first time around, don’t miss this partially staged co-production with Opera Philadelphia this Sunday, February 19th, at 1 pm.

POIC070614Held.mp3
Bass-baritone Alan Held sings the role of John the Baptist in this historic performance - the first collaboration of The Philadelphians and Opera Philadelphia performing Richard Strauss' SALOME.

Detailed program notes

PROGRAM:

Richard Strauss: SALOME

Camilla Nyland, soprano

Birgit Remmert, mezzo-soprano

John MacMaster, tenor

Alan Held, bass-baritone

Andrew Staples, tenor

The Philadelphia Orchestra

     Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor

Listen to The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts every Sunday at 1 pm on WRTI 90.1 FM, online at WRTI.org, and on our new mobile app!Gregg Whiteside is producer and host.

Gregg was the host of WRTI's morning drive show from 2012 until his retirement from WRTI in January, 2021. He began producing and hosting The Philadelphia Orchestra In Concert broadcasts in 2013, joining the Orchestra in Hong Kong for the first-ever live international radio broadcasts from that island in 2016, and in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for two historic broadcasts in 2018. You can still hear Gregg as host of the Orchestra broadcasts every Sunday and Monday on WRTI.