Salome en Een Florentijnsch Treurspel

This recording brings to life Oscar Wilde’s richly poetic drama, set in the opulent yet unsettling court of Herod Antipas. From the first moment, listeners hear the whispered admiration for the enigmatic Princess Salome as soldiers and servants watch her move beneath a moonlit terrace, while distant tension rises over the imprisoned prophet Jokanaan. The language, delivered in its original archaic Dutch spelling, retains the sumptuous rhythm and witty banter that made the play a staple of decadent theatre.

Alongside Wilde’s work, the collection includes a translated Florentine tragedy, offering a rare glimpse into early modern Italian stagecraft through the careful scholarship of Dr. P.C. Boutens. Together they create a tableau of power, desire, and religious conflict, populated by figures ranging from Herod’s ambitious wife Herodias to foreign soldiers and mystics, each voiced with clear, immersive narration. The production balances dramatic tension with moments of dark humor, inviting listeners to contemplate the thin line between fascination and danger.