(Credit: Marius Vepsta)

Victorian Opera is set to present a new production of Richard Strauss’ “Salome” starting on Feb. 22, 2020 at the Palais Theatre, St. Kilda.

The opera, which will feature additional showcases on Feb. 25 and 27, will star Lithuanian soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė in her role debut as the title heroine. She will be joined by Daniel Sumegi as Jochanaan. 

The opera will be conducted by Victorian Opera’s Artistic Director Richard Mills and directed by Cameron Menzies, who noted in a press release that he seeks to explore the “disease of corruption, the disease of fear, the disease of the appropriation of power and also the disease of a crown that sits on a ruler’s head” with his new production. 

“[‘Salome’ is] a ritual which shocks through pity and terror, a catharsis which shakes the foundations of what it is to be human. Salome offers a theatrical experience which explores ‘the very north of humanness’ in a bloody confrontation which releases the spirit and makes us gasp with wonder,” added Mills in a press release.