Elektra

Richard Strauss (1864–1949)

DESCRIPTION

This performance of Elektra is notable for the presence of two singers not especially associated with the opera: Heather Harper as Chrysothemis and Kerstin Meyer as Klytämnestra. Harper’s voice lacks the steely edge often associated with Strauss, yet the auburn color of her tone and its distinctly Mozartian poise suggest a young woman driven toward emotional desperation by the grim circumstances surrounding her. Meyer, for her part, avoids exaggerated theatrics, instead offering a more inward account of Klytämnestra’s terror-laden dreams.

In the title role, Danica Mastilovic meets the formidable demands of Elektra with stamina and commitment. While the performance may not place her among the most celebrated interpreters of the part, the accomplishment of sustaining the role’s punishing vocal and dramatic requirements remains considerable. In the pit, Rudolf Kempe brings notable clarity and a sense of dramatic impetus to Strauss’s score.

CAST

Erste Magd – Elizabeth Bainbridge
Zweite Magd – Heather Begg
Dritte Magd – Gillian Knight
Vierte Magd – Anne Edwards
Fünfte Magd – Alexandra Browning
Aufseherin – Milla Andrew
Elektra – Danica Mastilovic
Chrysothemis – Heather Harper
Klytämnestra – Kerstin Meyer
Vertraute – Ula van Wyk
Schleppträgerin – Elena Davies
Junger Diener – Adrian de Peyer
Alter Diener – Paul Statham
Orest – Donald McIntyre
Orests Erzieher – Richard van Allan
Ägisth – Richard Lewis

DETAILS

Location: London
Date: October 26, 1973
Conductor: Rudolf Kempe
Catalogue Number: OD 10173-2
Label: Opera Depot
Number of Discs: 2
In Mono