SALOME to Open Cincinnati Opera's 2026 Summer Festival at Music Hall

On June 18 and 20 Cincinnati Opera opens its 2026 Summer Festival with Richard Strauss's Salome.

Salome will feature a cast led by 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.

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 obsession, power, and prophecy, where every glance is loaded, and no desire is without cost.

The cast is led by Kathryn Lewek as Salome, alongside Chad Shelton as Herod, Alfred Walker as Jochanaan (John the Baptist), and Michelle DeYoung as Herodias. The company also features Zach Borichevsky as Narraboth, Emily Cotten as the Page of Herodias, Thomas Dreeze as the First Nazarene, Donghoon Kang as the First Soldier, Sam Smith as the Second Soldier, Julius Ahn as the First Jew, Levi Capesius as the Second Jew, Mark Hockenberry as the Third Jew, M. Andrew Jones as the Fourth Jew, Ron Dukes as the Fifth Jew, Alexander Gushrowski as the Second Nazarene, Clara Reeves as a Slave, and Stephen Hanna as a Cappadocian. Dancers Sydney Caggiano and Amanda Pérez Duarte round out the company.

The production is conducted by Robert Spano and directed by Jose Maria Condemi. The creative team includes scenic and properties designer Tim Wallace, Costume Designer Anita Yavich, lighting designer Thomas C. Hase, wig and makeup designer James Geier, choreographer Erina Noda, and stage manager Jennifer Shaw. The production features the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

• The June 18 performance of Salome is Veterans Night. A limited number of free tickets are available to U.S. veterans through Vet Tix, and veterans and their families can receive a 20% discount on full-priced tickets.
• The June 20 performance of Salome is Pride Night. Following the performance, Cincinnati Opera will host a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community featuring drinks, dancing, and special surprises in Music Hall's Wilks Studio. Event tickets are $40; Salome tickets are sold separately. Host and sponsor opportunities are also 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, available beginning the day of the performance. More information is available at cincinnatiopera.org.