Overview
- It is the company’s first Salome in 20 years, with performances continuing at the Lyric Opera House through Feb. 14.
- The staging revives David McVicar’s 2008 Royal Opera House production, relocating the action to pre‑war Italy and replacing the traditional Seven Veils dance with a narrative sequence.
- Soprano Jennifer Holloway took over the title role after Elena Stikhina withdrew due to pregnancy, and bass‑baritone Nicholas Brownlee earns praise as Jochanaan.
- A late cast change put Alex Boyer in as Herod after Brandon Jovanovich withdrew for personal reasons.
- Critics single out the Lyric Opera Orchestra—expanded to 94 players under Tomáš Netopil—for exceptional playing, while noting provocative visuals that include a displayed severed head without an onstage decapitation.