In the Buff and Boffo
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
When Karita Mattila does “Salome” at the Metropolitan Opera, she goes all the way — that is, she appears stark naked (briefly) at the end of the Dance of the Seven Veils. The former general manager of the Met, Joseph Volpe, put a photo of this moment in his memoirs. Ms. Mattila’s striptease is known throughout the operagoing world. Chances are, there are more pairs of binoculars than usual at the Met when she performs “Salome.”
I’m not sure that the “full frontal” adds anything (except notoriety). And Ms. Mattila’s nudity should not be allowed to cover the fact that she is an extraordinary Salome, all the way around: vocally, theatrically. In whatever role she takes on, she is a true “singing actress,” as people say. This is perhaps especially so when she is Salome.
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