Dr. Takt über Richard Strauss „Salome“ / Schlussszene, Ziffer 355 bis 359 - Deutsche Oper Berlin
Dr Takt on Richard Strauss' Salome / finale, figure 355 to 359
This is the 15th episode in our series of videos with Dr Takt
The Making of Blond
A stage installation
Stage director, text: Gesine Danckwart; Composers: Thomas Kürstner and Sebastian Vogel; Set and costumes: Julia Hansen; Sounddesign: Fabian Kühlein; Dramaturgy: Sebastian Hanusa, Sabrina Zwach; With Burkhard Ulrich, Jörg Schörner, Tina Kim, Piotr Prysiaznik, Lothar Weiche, Georg Roither
Premiere on 8 June 2021
THE MAKING OF BLOND cites a quote from the closing monologue in Salome that epitomises the masculine projection of feminine eroticism in a transitional area between mania and rapture. Strauss transgresses harmonious boundaries by composing this out. Such is the case in the measures before Salome's breakthrough in "her" key of C sharp measure at figure 359. The "kiss motif" heard here begins with the jump to the sixth of the basic key. This sixth also shapes the preceding tranquil, yet tense section: two keys overlap, C sharp minor/C sharp major and Jochanaan's C major. Both keys are wedged over the higher-pitched trill A – A sharp/B, the sixth to the respective basic key in turn. And before the tension that has built up is unleashed in Salome's line, "I have kissed thy mouth, Jochanaan", it peaks harmoniously with a likewise sixth-based, sub-dominant A major chord.—
