Details

The story is set in Jerusalem during the reign of King Solomon. Despite it being the eve of his wedding to Sulamith, daughter of the High Priest, Assad is in love with the Queen of Sheba who is visiting Jerusalem. Assad blasphemes in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, declaring that the Queen is his god. The people demand punishment by death. After the Queen pleads unsuccessfully with Solomon for Assad's life, the king is touched when Sulamith makes the same plea. He spares Assad but banishes him to the desert. There the Queen finds him and tries to persuade him to follow her. He refuses and drives her away. After a violent sandstorm, Sulamith finds him and the two are reconciled before he dies in her arms. Sung in German

Cast/Performers

Max Wittges (King Salomon), Cornelia Helfricht (Queen of Sheba), Mauro Nicoletti (Assad), Valerij Popov (Assad 23rd / 26th), Inka Rinn (Sulamith), Vladimir Glushchak (Baal-Hanaan), Teresa Matlova (Astaroth), Piotr Nowacki (Hohepriester)

Creatives/Company

Company: Wexford Festival Opera
Conductor: Claude Schnitzler
Director: Patrick Mailler
Design: Massimo Gasparon