I bought this to hear George Shirley in an uncharacteristic role and to hear Margaret Tynes in a complete role. I was vaguely aware of Tynes when the NYTimes published her obituary a month or so ago. She died at age 103. She had a decent career in Europe in the 50's, but she came along at the wrong time to really make it in opera in the US. When Leontyne Price mad her Met debut, Tynes was already over forty. She did come to the Met for three performances in her fifties, but she was not well received. She made one LP of arias for Humgaraton in the early 60's. It is available through iTunes and is very impressive as is this recording of Salome. I gave the performance four stars because I noticed that there are 50 measures of music missing at the end of the first disc. Were they cut, or were they lost?Despite that, this is a strong performance, and I am happy to have it.

There´s not much to add to Richard´s detailed summery (and I own - as of now - 92 Salomes, abot 15 ... 20 of them actually get reruns from time to time. And 2 Fidelios, which get no reruns). Tynes was new for me as well, and she does her job in a really admirable way.Andersons prophet fulfills the necessity of credibility, which is the most important feature in delivering this role. I don´t expect (or believe in) most beautiful singing from a guy, who lived off sand and the occational scorpio- or spider-bit. He´s convincing ... and so is the complete performance under the supervision of Mr. Shippers. Will get a resumption, with headphones, this summer, in a deckchair at a beach.

I wholeheartedly agree with Andy's comments and praise for this performance. These days, lovers of this opera are fortunate to have access to many, many recordings and performances, whether online including YouTube, CDs, DVDs...and of course, the Opera Depot library! I personally own some 45 Salomes [Why? Doesn't everyone...? I've got 60 Fidelios!] As such, it is easy to think "Oh, not another one!"...but -in this case- that would be a foolhardy thought!I, too, was surprised by George Shirley's complete and complex realisation of Herod, so beautifully-sung as to lull us into some empathy with this appalling character! I had never before heard Margaret Tynes so, despite identifying some shrillness in the Jochanaan scene, it was a pleasure to make acquaintance with the gifts of such a nuanced, detailed and charismatic soprano, a true singing-actress [and she had an acting career as well!]A word too for Robert Anderson as the prophet - some roughness, not a particularly subtle performance, but a strong baritone, a force of nature one can actually believe would stand by the Sea of Galilee and threaten fire and brimstone at Herod and Herodias! Competent support from the large cast -some better than others- and incandescent conducting from Schippers...and the sound is great, too!Just GET it!