Svetac
dana
29.8.
mučeništvo sv. Ivana Krstitelja
Danas je
mučeništvo sv. Ivana Krstitelja. Pri spominjanju toga Isusova preteče,
vjerojatno nam se pred očima pojavi scena Herodove gozbe i Herodijadine kćeri u
zanosnom plesu. Upravo je taj ples Ivana stajao glave. Doduše, Ivanu je glava
odsječena zbog istine za koju se zalagao i koju je naviještao. Time se ispunilo
i proroštvo koje je sam Ivan Krstitelj izrekao pred učenicima kad je, upućujući
na Krista rekao da se on, Ivan, treba umanjiti a da se Krist, Jaganjac Božji
koji oduzima grijeh svijeta, mora uzvisiti. To se i dogodilo. Ivan je utamničen
i potom mu je odrubljena glava.
The Fate of John the Baptist & Salome's Dance
http://atheism.about.com/od/biblegospelofmark/a/mark06c.htm
Richard Strauss: Salomé (1905) Stratas/Böhm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHz-I72TYfo
Richard Strauss (1864-1949): Salomé, Opera in one Act
(1905). Libretto by Hedwig Lachmann, after Oscar Wilde's French play. First
performance at the Royal Opera, Dresden,
December 9, 1905.
Herod: Hans Beirer
Herodias:
Astrid Varnay
Jokanaan:
Bernd Weikl
Narraboth: Wieslaw Ochman
Page: Hanna Schwartz
Wiener
Philharmoniker diretti da Karl Böhm.
Regia di Götz Friederich.
Setting of Salome:
Strauss' Salome takes place in Judea
at King Herod's palace in 30 A.D.
The Story of Salome
Under the bright moon
light, guard captain, Narraboth, intensely watches Princess Salome, with whom
he is madly in love, from a terrace above the banquet hall as she dines with
her stepfather and his court. As the royal family continue their feast, screams
from Jochanaan the prophet are heard bellowing from the cistern. King Herod
fears the prophet and orders everyone to ignore him and to never make contact
with him. Most people go back to eating, but Princess Salome has become bored
with her father and his guests, and excuses herself from the table. She makes
her way to the terrace to get a breath of fresh air and hears Jochanaan cursing
her mother, Herodias. Princess Salome immediately orders the guards to retrieve
Jochanaan and bring him to her, but they refuse. Growing ever more curious
about the feared prophet, she turns to Narraboth and charms him into bending to
her will. Narraboth orders his men to bring Jochanaan to the princess, which
they do so readily. Jochanaan emerges from the cistern shouting curses over
Herod and Herodias. All but Princess Salome are unable to understand him. When
her eyes set on Jochanaan's milky white skin, she becomes instantly enamored
with him. She cannot help but ask to touch his skin. After telling her no, he
begins to prophesy that the Son of God will save mankind. Princess Salome isn't
interested in hearing what he has to say. She asks to touch his long, silky
black hair. Again, he replies with a no, and continues to preach about the Son
of God. Princess Salome cannot take it anymore and asks to kiss him. Narraboth
is shocked. He unsheathes his dagger and fatally stabs himself out of grief.
Jochanaan returns to the cistern telling her to find salvation from the Son of
God. Princess Salome, rejected, falls to her feet.
King Herod, Herodias, and their court have finished their
feast and have moved to the terrace. When King Herod enters, he slips on
Narraboth's blood and begins hallucinating. With lustful eyes, he approaches
his stepdaughter despite Herodias' objections. Princess Salome turns him away.
Jochanaan begins shouting again from the cistern, demanding that he be handed
over to the Jews. He shouts curses over Herodias again, and Herodias orders her
husband to keep him quiet, but King Herod is too afraid. Herodias mocks his
cowardice. Several Jews in attendance debate the nature of God, and two men
from Nazareth
tell of the miracles performed by Jesus. King Herod overhears their
conversations and become even more unnerved.
To take his mind of things, King Herod begs Princess Salome
to dance for him. Having been rejected by her twice before, he provides her an
incentive - he will grant any one wish as long as she dance for him. Piqued by
his generous offer, Princess Salome makes sure that King Herod will uphold his
bargain. When she is satisfied that he will do as she wishes, she begins the "Dance
of the Seven Veils." This oriental style dance is quite seductive.
Princess Salome slowly removes each of the seven veils adorning her until she
lies naked at her stepfathers feet. After her dance, King Herod is thrilled to
grant her one wish. She immediately asks for the head of Jochanaan to be
delivered to her on a silver platter. King Herod nearly turns ghostly white and
spouts off a myriad of more desirable things - jewels, property, rare animals,
etc. The beautiful Princess Salome holds fast to her wish and the king does as
she says. Moments later, the king's guards return with the prophet's severed
head delivered on a silver platter as requested. Princess Salome is overjoyed
and grabs the head as if Jochanaan were still alive. She speaks to it passionately,
then proceeds to kiss his lips. Disgusted by Princess Salome, King Herod orders
his guards to execute her.