San Giovanni Battista

Sacred opera by Alessandro Stradella that recreates the biblical episode of Saint John the Baptist and Salome, performed by the ensemble Il Pomo d'Oro at the Teatro Real in Madrid.

This production brings to the Teatro Real a sacred opera from the Italian Baroque signed by Alessandro Stradella, originally written for a Roman confraternity. The story recounts the biblical encounter between Saint John the Baptist and Salome and sets the conflict at the court of Herod, where power, desire and revenge intersect.

John the Baptist publicly denounces Herod's relationship with Herodias, which enrages her. Manipulated by her mother, Salome uses her seduction on the ruler; after her dance, Herod, torn between desire and his commitment to keep his word, grants her request. The ending leaves an atmosphere of guilt and remorse, with the innocence of the martyr set against the corruption surrounding him.

Francesco Corti directs the production, with a reading that seeks fidelity to the Baroque style. The cast is headed by countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński. The music is performed by Il Pomo d'Oro, an ensemble founded in 2012 that takes its name from an opera by Antonio Cesti and is dedicated to recovering the original sound of early music.