A fever dream of obsession, power, and prophecy comes to Music Hall June 18 and 20
Cincinnati Opera presents Richard Strauss’s Salome. Photo: Karli Cadel/San Diego Opera
CINCINNATI (June 5, 2026)—On June 18 and 20 at Cincinnati’s historic Music Hall, immerse yourself in a psychological thriller that will set your heart racing: Richard Strauss’s Salome. Not seen in Cincinnati in more than 25 years, Cincinnati Opera opens its 2026 Summer Festival with this spellbinding story of obsessive desire and devastating consequences.
Salome pairs a richly dramatic score with fierce performances from a cast led by the Metropolitan Opera’s “reigning Queen of the Night” (The New York Times), soprano Kathryn Lewek, in her title role debut. The all-star cast of Metropolitan Opera regulars also includes tenor Chad Shelton as Herod, bass-baritone Alfred Walker as Jochanaan, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung as Herodias, and tenor Zach Borichevsky as Narraboth. Robert Spano conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Jose Maria Condemi directs.
EVENT DETAILS
WHAT:
Cincinnati Opera presents Salome
Music by Richard Strauss
Libretto by Hedwig Lachmann
Based on the play by Oscar Wilde
Sung in German with projected English translations
WHEN:
Thursday, June 18, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 20, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
THE STORY:
Salome, the teenage princess of Judea, becomes dangerously fixated on the imprisoned prophet John the Baptist (named “Jochanaan” in the opera). When he rejects her advances, her desire curdles into obsession. At her stepfather Herod’s birthday feast, Salome dances and, at her maniacal mother’s behest, demands a gruesome reward. Set to Richard Strauss’s lush score, Salome is a fever dream of lust, power, and prophecy, where every glance is loaded and no desire is without cost.
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM:
Salome … Kathryn Lewek
Herod … Chad Shelton
Jochanaan (John the Baptist) … Alfred Walker
Herodias … Michelle DeYoung
Narraboth … Zach Borichevsky
Page of Herodias … Emily Cotten
First Nazarene … Thomas Dreeze
First Soldier … Donghoon Kang
Second Soldier … Sam Smith
First Jew … Julius Ahn
Second Jew … Levi Capesius
Third Jew … Mark Hockenberry
Fourth Jew … M. Andrew Jones
Fifth Jew … Ron Dukes
Second Nazarene … Alexander Gushrowski
A Slave … Clara Reeves
A Cappadocian … Stephen Hanna
Dancers … Sydney Caggiano, Amanda Pérez Duarte
Conductor … Robert Spano
Stage Director … Jose Maria Condemi
Scenic and Properties Designer … Tim Wallace
Costume Designer … Anita Yavich
Lighting Designer … Thomas C. Hase
Wig and Makeup Designer … James Geier
Choreographer … Erina Noda
Stage Manager … Jennifer Shaw
Featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
TICKETS & INFO:
Tickets start at $25. Call 513-241-2742 or visit cincinnatiopera.org.
The June 18 performance of Salome is Veterans Night. In appreciation, a limited number of free tickets are available to U.S. veterans through Vet Tix, and a 20% discount on full-priced tickets is available for veterans and their families.
The June 20 performance of Salome is Pride Night. Following that evening’s performance, the company lightens the mood in celebration of LGBTQIA+ community with drinks, dancing, and surprises in Music Hall’s Wilks Studio. Tickets are $40 (Salome tickets sold separately). Host and Sponsor opportunities available.
Additional discounts are available for groups, students, educators, young professionals, seniors, SNAP cardholders, and ArtsWave Pass members. Cincinnati Opera also offers Pay What You Wish tickets for the June 18 performance of Salome, beginning the day of the performance. Details are available at cincinnatiopera.org.
Looking ahead:
Cincinnati Opera
2026 Summer Festival
Salome
Music by Richard Strauss
Libretto by Hedwig Lachmann
June 18, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
June 20, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Springer Auditorium, Cincinnati Music Hall
Studio Sessions: Soul & Sound 2.0
June 25, 2026 | 8:00 p.m.
Wilks Studio, Cincinnati Music Hall
Studio Sessions: Matthew White in Recital
July 1, 2026 | 8:00 p.m.
Wilks Studio, Cincinnati Music Hall
Lalovavi (world premiere)
Music by Kevin Day
Libretto by Tifara Brown
July 9, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
July 11, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Springer Auditorium, Cincinnati Music Hall
Carmen
Music by Georges Bizet
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy
July 25, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
July 29, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
July 31, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
August 2, 2026 | 3:00 p.m.
Springer Auditorium, Cincinnati Music Hall
Orpheus and Euridice
Music and text by Ricky Ian Gordon
July 28, 2026 | 8:00 p.m.
July 30, 2026 | 8:00 p.m.
August 1, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Wilks Studio, Cincinnati Music Hall
Visit cincinnatiopera.org for complete details.
Media Contact:
Katie Syroney
Director of Communications
ksyroney@cincinnatiopera.org