Salome

Were you expecting Bill Compton to have a master plan? To be nice Bill all along and not some crazy vampire religious zealot? It could have happened that way. But yeah, it didn't. The opposite happened. When Eric and Sookie track him down in his Massive Master Authority Crazy Person Bedchamber, Bill has just staked Salome (I'd say R.I.P. to Salome, but it wouldn't mean it), having tricked her into drinking "Lilith's blood" that he has spiked with lots of silver. Some major "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" stuff here (before she's staked, Salome even says "she chose wisely)

Perhaps because giving birth to it was so difficult, "Fidelio" was one of Beethoven's most beloved children. Before Beethoven wrought "Fidelio" -- which will be performed by the Baltimore Opera Company starting Saturday -- into the form in which we now know it, he struggled through two titles, three productions and four overtures. But his only opera is also one of the greatest ever written, and its theme, human liberty, is the one that was closest to Beethoven's heart."Fidelio's" cast includes sopranos Frances Ginzer and Jan Grissom, each of whom has made fine impressions in previous BOC productions, and it will be led by Alexander Sander, whose conducting in "Salome" a few seasons back was so memorable.

Lilith is one tricky chick. As if Bill isn't full of himself enough, she appears to him (naked and bloody, of course) a few times, tells him he's the chosen one to lead and to drink her. All of her. But she does the same thing to another Authority Chancellor, and angry religious Bill promptly chops off his head. Lilith later appears to Salome and says the same thing. Bill, thankfully, isn't around for this appearance. Clearly, Lilith isn't the right person to follow -- in case you were confused.

The race in Baltimore County's Class 4A-3A girls soccer division has become awfully crowded in the past week, but two-time defending county champion Perry Hall remains in control of its own fate. The No. 13 Gators suffered their first division loss to Towson on Thursday, ending a 33-game winning streak against county foes. Now, they must beat No. 10 Dulaney and Franklin this week to guarantee a berth in the Oct. 22 county title match. Otherwise, upstart Kenwood likely will steal the division.

An appearance by bass-baritone James Morris in the title role of Verdi's "Macbeth" and a recital by tenor Chris Merritt are among the highlights of next year's Baltimore Opera Company season.Baltimorean Morris will be assaying the great role for the first time in his distinguished career on March 12, 16, 18 and 20, 1994.Merritt, a Baltimore resident who is one of the best-known bel canto specialists, will give his recital Nov. 21 at Grace United Methodist Church.The season will open with a new production of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" (Oct.

MOSCOW - Russia has agreed in principle to close its two military bases in Georgia by 2008, potentially forfeiting one of the key remnants of its Soviet-era influence in the southern Caucasus, Georgian officials said yesterday. Concluding talks with her Russian counterpart, Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili said Russia has tentatively endorsed a plan to begin withdrawing 7,000 troops and military hardware from the former Soviet military outposts almost immediately after a final agreement is signed.

WBJC (91.5 FM) will broadcast live 20 Metropolitan Opera productions on successive Saturdays after the annual Met Marathon 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. All times are 1:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The operas are:Dec. 8, Verdi's "La Traviata"; Dec. 15, 1 p.m. R. Strauss' "Salome"; Dec. 22, 1 p.m. Giordano's "Andrea Chenier"; Dec. 29, Rossini's "Semiramide" (new production, with Baltimore tenor Chris Merritt.)Jan. 5, 1 p.m. Gounod's "Faust"; Jan. 12, Verdi's "Rigoletto"; Jan. 19, Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunov"; Jan. 26, Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera" (new production)

Harold InnocentBritish actorLONDON -- Harold Innocent, who played the corrupt bishop alongside Kevin Costner in the movie "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and the Duke of Burgundy in Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V" died Sunday at his home here after a short ill- ness.Born Harold Sidney Harrison, the 60-year-old actor trained at the Birmingham School of Speech Training and Dramatic Arts and moved to Hollywood after a stint in the Royal Air Force.He began his long television career with an appearance in "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" in 1959, and went on to roles in "Gunsmoke," "Ben Casey," "The Barbara Stanwyck Show" and "Have Gun -- Will Travel."