Bob’s World of J. Massenet Hérodiade


	Bob’s World of

érodiade

Opéra en 4 actes

Libretto by Paul Milliet and
Henri Grémont [Georges Hartmann]
(Italian version by Angelo Zamardini)

Music by J. Massenet

First Performance: Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels, December 19, 1881

Hérode, baritone	Manouri
Jean, tenor	Edmond Vergnet
Hérodiade, mezzo-soprano	Blanche Deschamp
Salomé, soprano	Martha Duvivier
Phanuel, bass	André Gresse
Vitellius, tenor	Charles Fontaine
High Priest, baritone	Boutens
Young Babylonian Woman	Lonati
Voice, tenor	Mansuede
Conductor	Joseph Dupont

Flaubert’s Trois Contes

   Act I takes place in the square in front of the royal palace, which is filled with members of a caravan of Hebrew merchants. They bear gifts for King Hérod. Phanuel who is astrologer and adviser to the king greets the merchants with words of revolt against the Roman invaders. Salomé, who was abandoned by her mother in childhood, wanders looking for her. Phanuel seems to be the only one who recognizes her as Hérodiade’s daughter.
   Salomé tells Phanuel of her love for the prophet John and that she can’t live without his warm courageous voice. She walks off. Hérode enters searching for a dancing girl who just happens to be Salomé. He sings rapturously about this young dancer. His song is interrupted by a distraught Hérodiade, who tells her husband to avenge her honor and eliminating Jean. Hérode refuses her cries because he has seen the power of John with the people. John enters and continues his tirade of her sins. The royal couple finally runs off to the safety of their palace.
   Salomé enters and rushes to the prophet and confesses her love for him. He rebukes her and tells her to lift up her spirit to the Heavens. He breaks from her embrace and leaves the square, while Salomé falls, sobbing on the steps of the palace.
   Act II, Scene 1 is set in the King’s richly ornamented chamber. Young slave girls dance for Hérode, who can not forget Salomé. After dinking a love potion, he sees an apparition of Salomé and states that he would give everything to have her. Finally, he reaches for the apparition and collapses in a stupor.
   Phanuel enters to see the sleeping king and remarks of his delirium is because of one woman. Hérode awakes only to hear the rebukes of his astrologer. Hérode tells Phanuel that he plans to use Jean’s power against the Romans and eliminate Jean in the process.
   Act II, Scene 2 takes place in the Grand Square of Jerusalem, called the Xyst. The square is full of all sorts of people who implore Hérode to liberate the homeland from the Romans. Night begins to set as Hérode and envoys enter and descend the steps to the square. The crowd is determined to support a holy war against the Romans. Their moment of hope is only too brief, for Vitellius, the Roman Proconsul arrives with much fanfare.
   Hérodiade enters from the palace and silences the crowd with a single gesture. She whispers to Hérode that she will outwit the Romans.
   Vitellius talks to the crowd and quickly convinces them that he brings the goodwill of Tiberius. They now hail the soldiers and Vitellius.
   Jean, Salomé and Canaanite women enter as the full moon casts a silver shadow over the square. Finally, Hérodiade invites Vitellius into the palace, but he turns and watches the reverence they show toward Jean. Hérode recognizes Salomé and points her out to Phanuel, while Hérodiade looks on in silent anger.
   Act III, Scene 1 takes place in Phanuel’s room in his house overlooking Jerusalem. He looks out the window on the sleeping city and the stars that predict the fall of Jerusalem.
   Hérodiade enters and begs the astrologer to read her rival’s destiny in the prophesy of the stars. Phanuel tells her that her star is obscured by a brighter star and takes her to the window and shows her Salomé walking toward the temple and tells her that she is Hérodiade’s daughter. She retorts that her daughter is dead; this is her rival!
   Act III, Scene 2 takes place in a hall leading to the sanctuary of the temple. As offstage voices praise Hérode and Hérodiade, Salomé enters the hall. Jean has been arrested and she is forlorn. Hérode appears and offers her his love. She refuses and Hérode threatens her. She retorts that she loves a man stronger than any power of the face of the earth. The voices of the priests interrupt them, and Hérode hurls one last treat as he leaves.
   The doors of the sanctuary are opened to reveal the brilliantly lighted tabernacle veiled from view of the congregation. When Phanuel appears, the crowd prostrates itself on the marble floor. The sacred veils are opened and the people rise to praise the Lord joyfully.
   Hérode returns with Vitellius, who urges the crowd to worship Caesar. Jean is brought in for trial. Vitellius, allows Hérode to judge Jean, since he is a Galilean. After questioning Jean, Hérode refuses to grant the priest’s petition of guilt. Also Phanuel and Vitellius urge compassion. The guards stir up the crowd, as Jean is taken away. Salomé, among the worshippers, falls at Jean’s feet and declares her love. Hérode recognizes his rival and sentences both to death.
   Act IV, Scene 1 takes place in Jean’s cell in the dungeon. One lamp illuminates the small semicircle of Jean’s cell. He is disturbed about Salomé and prays to God for understanding when she enters his cell. He cries out that God has allowed him to love Salomé.
   Above the voices of the priests demand Jean’s death. He begs Salomé to save herself, but she insists that she will die with him. Suddenly, soldiers burst in and drag the lovers out of the cell.
   Act IV, Scene 2 takes place in the great hall of the palace of the Proconsul. Upon the entry of Vitellius and his royal guests, the soldiers salute both their chief and Rome.
   When the festivities begin, women from various parts of the Empire dance for the assembled guests. Salomé interrupts the festivities when she enters and runs to her mother pleading for Jean’s life. Hérodiade trembles at the word “mother” is ready to forgive the prophet when the executioner appears in the background with a bloody sword.
   Salomé, enraged at the site of the sword, pulls a dagger and threatens the Queen. Hérodiade begs for mercy and Salomé turns the dagger on herself and dies at her mother feet.