The production features a creative team making their Met debuts, including set designer Etienne Pluss and costumer designer Ursula Kudrna.

The opera tells the biblical story of Salome, who performs the Dance of the Seven Veils to seduce her stepfather, Herod, ultimately leading to the beheading of St. John the Baptist.

Guth's production updates the setting to Victorian times and features six body doubles representing stages of Salome's shattered psyche, evoking themes of abuse and trauma.

A significant visual element of the production is a projected video of a young Salome, accompanied by a haunting music box sound.

Soprano Elza van den Heever, who stars as Salome, has reported experiencing disturbing nightmares linked to her portrayal of the character.

Van den Heever emphasizes the importance of unsettling the audience, stating that if viewers leave comfortable, it indicates a failure of the performance.

Reflecting on her previous portrayal of Salome, van den Heever notes that Guth's version is more psychologically focused compared to her earlier, more visceral interpretation.

The Metropolitan Opera's new production of 'Salome,' directed by Claus Guth, opens today and runs until May 24, 2025, marking the first new staging of Strauss' adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play since 2004.

Originally announced in 2017, Guth's staging faced multiple delays due to the pandemic and geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine.

The production aims to challenge audiences by juxtaposing beautiful music with disturbing stage actions, a contrast emphasized by Met music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

A climactic moment in the performance includes Salome shattering a 250-pound statue, symbolizing her psychological turmoil, alongside other shocking visual elements.

The body doubles in the production wear black velvet dresses and have blank expressions, reminiscent of the Grady twins from 'The Shining,' which Guth cites as an influence.