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Elektra
In college I fell in love with Astrid Varnay's legendary performance of Elektra from Salzburg, 1964 conducted by Karajan. As iconic as that performance was, I can honestly say she hits an even higher mark with this one. Everything about the voice is working perfectly, and one gets the sense that she is holding back absolutely nothing. The true achievement may be how she scales back her voice for some of the more intimate moments—no easy feat after spending more than an hour in pitched battle with a 110-piece orchestra.
Liane Synek matches Varnay's intensity and abandon without any trace of the hardness that would eventually creep into her voice. Jean Madeira manages to find moments of beauty as Klytämnestra without white-washing the grotesque aspects of the character.
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 ist tot!
12. Platz da! wer lungert so vor einer Tür?
13. Nun muss es hier von uns geschehn
14. Wie stark du bist!
15. Von jetzt an will ich deine Schwester sein
16. Nun denn allein!
17. Orest!... Es rührt sich niemand
18. Nein, du sollst mich nicht umarmen!
19. Ich habe ihm das Beil nicht geben können!
20. He! Lichter! Lichter!
21. Elektra! Schwester! komm mit uns!
22. Sie fahren dahin wie die Schärfe des Schwerts
23. Elektra!... Schweig, und tanze
12. Platz da! wer lungert so vor einer Tür?
13. Nun muss es hier von uns geschehn
14. Wie stark du bist!
15. Von jetzt an will ich deine Schwester sein
16. Nun denn allein!
17. Orest!... Es rührt sich niemand
18. Nein, du sollst mich nicht umarmen!
19. Ich habe ihm das Beil nicht geben können!
20. He! Lichter! Lichter!
21. Elektra! Schwester! komm mit uns!
22. Sie fahren dahin wie die Schärfe des Schwerts
23. Elektra!... Schweig, und tanze
Customer Reviews
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4.7
Based on 3 reviews
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Exciting Performance, Good Sound!
If you've only heard Varnay as Klytemnestra (and she was a great Klytemnestra), you must also hear her in the title role. She'd been singing the part for quite a while when this performance was given; there is a famous broadcast of Varnay, Hillebrecht, and Mödl under Karajan from Salzburg the same year this performance was given. That is a memorable performance, but this one finds Varnay in even better voice. There is nothing in the role that she can't handle. Her top Bs and Cs are thrilling (she interpolates an extra high B as her last note) and she is also able to sing a fully-supported pianissimo when she needs to (in the "Orest!" monologue). Every word counts too - a classic portrayal.Liane Synek is a powerful Chrysothemis with soaring top notes who makes a great contrast to Varnay's scorching portrayal. Jean Madeira lives up to her reputation as a frightening Klytemnestra with her growled low notes and many interpolated gasps. A pity the scene following Elektra's "Was bluten muß?" is missing from the recording as Madeira always did that very well. Whoever does her offstage screams deserves a raise: they are hair-raising.Dutch baritone Camillo Meghor is a noble, vivid Orest and Hermann Esser a distinguished Ägisth. Too bad the five maids and their Overseer aren't listed as they are excellent. Ludwig Kaufmann leads a memorable performance preserved in adequate sound. It's not great but never gets in the way either.Varnay fans must get this.
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✓ Verified Buyer
France
Elektra Astrid Varnay, Synek, Madeira
Hi AndiOne had the impression that Astrid Varnay was totally overwhelmed by the tragic fate of Elektra and lets herself be carried by this dramatic atmosphere. All artists were "electrified".A truly good and special performance!Thank youCordialement, Marlyse
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✓ Top Reviewer
Germany
Strauss: Elektra - Varnay, Synek, Madeira, Esser, Meghor; Kaufmann. Wiesbaden, 1964
Eine gute Vorstellung mit der damals noch jüngeren Astrid Varnay als Elektra und die leider zu früh verstorbene Liane Synek. Alle Sänger sind hervorragend. Die Aufnahmequalität ist gut. Es ist eine Freude diese Elektra Aufführung zu hören. A good performance with the then still younger Astrid Varnay as Elektra and the sadly too early deceased Liane Synek. All the singers are excellent. The recording quality is good. It is a pleasure to hear this Elektra performance.
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