On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Mike Shobe are joined by soprano Patricia Racette and music writer Paul Thomason to discuss Salome. Hear how an innocent princess transforms into a deranged psychopath, the scandals surrounding the opera's premieres and why it's more fun to play a nasty character than a nice one. Plus, hear all about these YouTube picks of the week:

Nadja Michael, the Royal Opera, London:

Lubja Welitsch, Fritz Reiner, Met Opera Orchestra:

Salome directed by Götz Friedrich, starring Teresa Stratas and Bernd Weikl, Karl Böhm conducts the Vienna Philharmonic:

This episode features excerpts from the following album:

• Salome (London/Decca, 1995)
— Catherine Malfitano, soprano; Bryn Terfel, bass-baritone; Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Christoph von Dohnányi