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Elektra
For this production of Elektra, the Royal Swedish Opera reunited the same cast from their legendary 1965 staging (available here), capturing lightning in a bottle once more. That earlier production marked Birgit Nilsson's role debut as Elektra, and nine years later she remains a force of nature. Although some flexibility has ebbed from her voice, she still summons earth-shattering high notes with astonishing ease. Berit Lindholm, now at the height of her powers, surpasses her previous performance as Chrysothemis with thrilling vocalism and dramatic conviction. Barbro Ericson makes a chilling yet vocally sumptuous Klytämnestra, balancing menace with dark beauty. Together, this cast delivers a searing account of Strauss's unrelenting score.
Track List
Disc 1
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? Dein eigenes Genick
11. Orest ist tot!
12. Nun muss es hier von uns geschehn
13. Von jetzt an will ich deine Schwester sein
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? Dein eigenes Genick
11. Orest ist tot!
12. Nun muss es hier von uns geschehn
13. Von jetzt an will ich deine Schwester sein
Disc 2
14. Nun denn allein!
15. Was willst du, fremder Mensch?
16. Orest!
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
15. Was willst du, fremder Mensch?
16. Orest!
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
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5.0
Based on 2 reviews
✓ Verified Buyer
Sweden
Stockholm's first Elektra nine years later - matured and refined
In 1965, Stockholm finally got to see Strauss's opera when Birgit Nilsson undertook its title role. Nine years later in Edinburgh four of the protagonists, the same conductor and orchestra repeated it after occasional revivals in Stockholm during the intervening years. Nilsson at 56 may sound a little more edgy, but still the era's best Elektra. Lindholm is now 40 and not 31 which is an advantage both soundwise and for mastery of the character, and the others remain excellent. That the show has become well-oiled and less nervous is just to the good, and certainly the occasion of a guest performance at an international festival made everyone concentrate. And the theatre is small enough for projecting the psychological drama. I saw the 1965 performance and several revivals, and this Edinburgh version may be the best the production ever had, here in reasonable mono broadcast sound.
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✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Exciting Performance in Very Good Sound!
It's easy to take Birgit Nilsson for granted because she made roles like Elektra sound easy. Opera Depot already has eight Elektras with Nilsson so one might wonder if there was a need for another one. When it's as good as this one, there is. Given while on tour in Edinburgh in 1974, this recording (preserved in excellent broadcast sound) was one of the hits of the festival. Everyone is at the top of their game. Nilsson is best known for her searing high notes, but it's usually forgotten how good a vocal technician she was too. Listen to her ethereal high soft singing or how she seems to have power to spare (she reportedly took one look at the small theater and said "I could fill this space with one lung!").Lindholm is a terrific Chrysothemis and Ericson sings Klytemnestra's angular, disjointed music with perfect line and poise. Saeden and Høiseth are excellent in their brief, important parts and the supporting cast is superb down to the smallest role. Klobuchar leads an exciting performance, notable for its expert pacing and lyricism. The sound is very clear and pitched correctly, a few moments of static in Elektra's "Orest!" monologue aside. The audience goes crazy at the end and so will you.
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