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Elektra
It's fun to consider that at the time of this recording, Richard Strauss was still very much a "contemporary" composer. And although Elektra had been around for a couple of decades, one gets the sense—thanks to the masterful conducting of Eugen Jochum—that the ink was not at all dry. His interpretation is bursting with vitality and refreshingly free from the traditions that have ossified so many modern performances. Notably, a number of the standard cuts have been opened, allowing the full impact of the score to come through. Erna Schlüter is a powerhouse in the title role, equally compelling in the drama and the quieter moments. Her breath control alone—heard in the included sample—is astounding and would rival even the greatest Norma.
Track List
1. Wo bleibt Elektra?
2. Allein! Weh, ganz allein
3. Elektra!... Ah, das Gesicht!
4. Ich kann nicht sitzen
5. Es geht ein Lärm los
6. Was willst du? Seht doch, dort!
7. Ich will nichts hören. Was aus euch herauskommt
8. Ich habe keine guten Nächte
9. Wenn das rechte Blutopfer unter'm Beile fällt
10. Was Bluten muss?
2. Allein! Weh, ganz allein
3. Elektra!... Ah, das Gesicht!
4. Ich kann nicht sitzen
5. Es geht ein Lärm los
6. Was willst du? Seht doch, dort!
7. Ich will nichts hören. Was aus euch herauskommt
8. Ich habe keine guten Nächte
9. Wenn das rechte Blutopfer unter'm Beile fällt
10. Was Bluten muss?
11. Orest! Orest ist tot!
12. Nun muss es hier von uns geschehn
13. Von jetzt an will ich deine Schwester sein
14. Nun denn allein!
15. Orest!
16. Diese süssen Schauder hab' ich dem Vater opfern müssen
17. Ich habe ihm das Beil nicht geben können!
18. He! Lichter! Lichter!
19. Elektra! Schwester! komm mit uns!
20. Sie fahren dahin wie die Schärfe des Schwerts
21. Elektra!... Schweig, und tanze
12. Nun muss es hier von uns geschehn
13. Von jetzt an will ich deine Schwester sein
14. Nun denn allein!
15. Orest!
16. Diese süssen Schauder hab' ich dem Vater opfern müssen
17. Ich habe ihm das Beil nicht geben können!
18. He! Lichter! Lichter!
19. Elektra! Schwester! komm mit uns!
20. Sie fahren dahin wie die Schärfe des Schwerts
21. Elektra!... Schweig, und tanze
Customer Reviews
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5.0
Based on 1 review
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Exciting Performance in Excellent Sound!
We can only imagine now what the performing forces here must've been thinking when this was recorded sometime in 1944. Hamburg had the been the target of Allied bombing for nearly a year and the city was pretty much in ruins. Perhaps because of the chaotic circumstances, the singers and orchestra all perform as if this might be their last performance (and for some of them it probably was.) Schlüter began as a mezzo and worked her way up to the hochdramatisch repertoire. She still had a top C in 1944, but evidently chose to parcel them out carefully. Here she sings an excellent C at the end of her first monologue, but rewrites the vocal line in "Was bluten muss?" to avoid the second one (but Strauss would not have minded.) She is a marvelous Elektra, showing more restraint than others, her vocal and breath control incredible. Kupper is a lovely, shining Chrysothemis while Gusta Hammer is a believable, well-sung Klytemnestra whose gasps, moans, and demonic laughter only add to this chilling performance. Whether she or someone else does her offstage screams I cannot say, but they are terrifying. The supporting cast all bite into their roles with unusual ferocity and Jochum, making fewer cuts than usual, leads an exciting performance. The sound is excellent All Elektra lovers should hear this performance.
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