On returning from Europe late in the summer of 1906 Mr. Conried announced his intention to produce Richard Strauss's "Salome," and his forces had no sooner been gathered together than Mr. Hertz began the laborious task of preparing the opera--if opera it can be called--for performance. There can scarcely be a doubt that Mr. Conried hoped for a sensational flurry like that which had accompanied the production of "Parsifal"; but, with an eye to the main chance, he confined his first official proclamation to a single performance, which, in connection with a concert by all his chief singers not concerned in the opera, was to be given for his annual benefit. Evidently he felt less sure about the outcome of this production than he had about that of "Parsifal," and was bound to reap all the benefits that could come from a powerful appeal to popular curiosity touching so notorious a work as Strauss's setting of Oscar Wilde's drama. The performance took place with many preliminary flourishes beyond the ordinary on January 22d. Two days before there was held a public rehearsal, which was attended by about a thousand persons who had received invitations, most of them being stockholders of the opera house, old subscribers, stockholders of Mr. Conried's company, writers for the newspapers, and friends of the artists and the management. The opera was given with the following cast:
Salome ................................. Miss Fremstad Herodias ................................... Miss Weed Herodias's Page ..................... Josephine Jacoby Herod's Page .......................... Marie Mattfeld Herod ................................... Carl Burrian Jochanaan ............................. Anton Van Rooy Narraboth ............................. Andreas Dippel First Jew .................................. Mr. Reiss Second Jew ................................. Mr. Bayer Third Jew ................................. Mr. Paroli Fourth Jew .................................. Mr. Bars Fifth Jew ............................... Mr. Dufriche First Nazarene ........................... Mr. Journet Second Nazarene ........................... Mr. Stiner First Soldier ........................... Mr. Mühlmann Second Soldier ............................. Mr. Blass A Cappadocian .............................. Mr. Lange Conductor, Alfred Hertz