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World Premiere of Gerald Barry's Salome in Magdeburg

Mar. 30, 2025

On March 15, Theatre Magdeburg presented the world premiere of Gerald Barry's latest opera Salome. The outstanding soprano Alison Scherzer sings the part of Salome in a production directed by Julien Chavaz and conducted by Jérôme Kuhn.

Gerald Barry’s latest opera reimagines Oscar Wilde’s play with his own libretto exploring themes of desire, power and grotesque beauty. Offering vivid orchestral textures and biting vocal writing, "Salome has the same wit and subversion as my other Oscar Wilde opera, The Importance of Being Earnest, says Gerald Barry. "They are similarly surreal and fantastic."

A story full of unexpected twists: In Gerald Barry’s Salome, the imprisoned prophet suddenly speaks French, King Herod dreams of an idyllic life on the beautiful Blue Danube, Salome types away furiously at her typewriter, and a bizarre, Frankenstein-like operation unfolds—all set against the backdrop of a surreal Wildean world. Barry’s distinctive, high-energy musical language transforms this dark and scandalous drama into a whirlwind of absurdity, sharp wit, and gripping intensity.

Salome was commissoned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, Gustavo Dudamel, Music Director; Nederlandse Publieke Omroep and Southbank Centre, London.


Trailer – Gerald Barry's Salome at Theatre Magdeburg

In addition, following a succession of critically acclaimed staged and concert performances, Barry's Alice's Adventures Under Ground is presented in French for the first time at Grand Théâtre de Genève in April 2025. The opera is based on Lewis Carroll’s two beloved books, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. As with Barry’s opera, The Importance of Being Earnest, the composer created the libretto himself from the author’s original texts. Thus, the work remains faithful to many aspects of the Alice story but is trimmed and compressed into a compact 70-minute opera in one act. Barry’s characteristic highspeed energy and riotous sense of humour propel the action forward in this surreal plunge into the depths of Wonderland.


Trailer – Alice's Adventures Under Ground at the Grand Théâtre de Genève

To learn more about Gerald Barry, visit schott-music.com.

Gerald Barry
Salome (2017-2020)
opera
libretto prepared by the composer
based on the play by Oscar Wilde
2(2.pic, afl).2.1.bcl.2(2.cbsn)-2.2.1.1-timp.perc(tub bells, s.d., whip)-str
65'
Preview the score

Alices Adventures Under Ground (2013-2015)
opera
libretto prepared by the composer based on the texts by Lewis Carroll
2(1.pic, 2.pic & afl).2(2.ca)1.bcl.2(2.cbsn)-2.2.1.1-timp-3perc(chimes, mar, b.d., 2 windmachines)-str(8.6.4.4.2 minimum)
70'
Preview the score

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