I have been thinking what oh what to give my Red Boa beauties for Christmas. I was searching high and low, online and within my brain, when the answer found me... on Facebook of all places, compliments of the social media hostess with the cultural mostess, Bobbi Todres. It is the following clip, which in and of itself is a true holiday treat. But what warrants its gift status from me to you is what it represents.
In it you will get a delicious taste of Strauss' Salome, performed at the Met Opera in 2008, starring soprano Karita Mattila. I have long been captivated by all things Salome. The story of the young girl whose dance resulted in "the head of John the Baptist on a platter" made quite the impact on me in my youth
I have enjoyed a number of different takes on the story, from the original Bible story to Oscar Wilde's play to Strass' operatic adaptation of the play, the lovely Rita Hayworth's cinematic dance, and perhaps my favorite, Carlos Sauras' flamenco version. But I don't think any have affected me as much as Karita Matilla's performance of the Dance of the Seven Veils. You see, she was not a teenage dancer showing her studied skills. She is a soprano singer, who at the time the scene was shot was 48 years old. In her modern garb she de-veils down to her knickers, for all the Met patrons and video viewers to see. And based on the pics I found a la Google, in the 2004 version she stripped down to the altogether.
I was agog at the confidence and attendant sexiness her bold act exuded and inspired. This was no waif, but a full-blown woman, all curves and experience, the perfect choice to grasp and parlay the fever and fervor behind the Wilde/Strauss vixen.
And so, my beauties, what I am giving you here is a taste and reminder of YOUR OWN unique, undying and undeniable allure and attractiveness. The Salome depicted may be a fictional character, but the woman who plays her is as real as they come. Merry Christmas, you beautiful woman.
