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Elektra
Ludmila Dvořáková's sole outing as Elektra is nothing short of revelatory. It is astonishing that she never reprised the role elsewhere, as her interpretation possesses a dramatic authority and vocal beauty that rival the best on record. The richness of her middle range allows her to navigate the role's punishing text with uncommon ease, while her top notes ring out with thrilling brilliance. Even when she veers slightly off rhythmically, her pitch accuracy remains remarkable. Elizabeth Schwarzenberg offers an admirable Chrysothemis, providing a grounded and sincere foil to Dvořáková's intensity. Ernst Märzendorfer conducts with an ear for lyricism that brings out unexpected nuances in Strauss' tumultuous score, revealing threads of beauty in the storm.
Less satisfying is Gertraud Eckert's Klytämnestra, which lacks the vocal presence needed to fully inhabit the role. The orchestra, despite Märzendorfer's strong leadership, makes more than a few missteps along the way.
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?
11. Orest! Orest ist tot!
12. Nun muss es hier von uns geschehn
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!... Was willst du, fremder Mensch?
15. Orest!... Es rührt sich niemand
16. Nein, du sollst mich nicht umarmen!
17. Ich habe ihm das Beil nicht geben können!
18. He! Lichter! Lichter!
19. Elektra! Schwester! komm mit uns!
20. Elektra!... Schweig, und tanze
14. Nun denn allein!... Was willst du, fremder Mensch?
15. Orest!... Es rührt sich niemand
16. Nein, du sollst mich nicht umarmen!
17. Ich habe ihm das Beil nicht geben können!
18. He! Lichter! Lichter!
19. Elektra! Schwester! komm mit uns!
20. Elektra!... Schweig, und tanze
Customer Reviews
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4.3
Based on 3 reviews
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
A Sleeper of an Elektra in Excellent Sound!
I didn't expect this Elektra to be as good as it was. If this was indeed Dvorakova's only Elektra it's a good thing it was recorded for posterity. She is in excellent voice throughout, her middle register dark and gloomy, her top notes shining like beacons of light in the fog (the two top Cs are dead on pitch). She always sings, never shouts, yet amply conveys Elektra's tortured personality. Schwarzenberg had a busy career in Germany, appearing at the Bayreuth Festival for a number of seasons. Her Chrysothemis is an excellent foil to Dvorakova. I have not heard Gertraud Eckert before or at least not in a leading role. She has an excellent, steady mezzo and really digs into the text without going overboard. She speaks the "Lichter! Mehr Lichter!" lines, but doesn't indulge in the hysterical laughter so often heard from Klytemnestra. Her offstage screams are terrifying. If anything, she sounds too young for the role, yet I liked her very much.The men are very characterful. Jaroslav Stajnc at first sounds too mild for Orest, but that changes immediately once he grasps who Elektra is. His "Nein!" at her revelation is chilling. Similarly, Richard Ames is a memorable Aegisth as is Erich Seitter in the brief role of the arrogant young servant. Märzendorfer leads an exciting, well-paced performance preserved in excellent stereo broadcast sound.All Elektra fans should get this!
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✓ Verified Buyer
South Africa
Fantastic Orchestral playing, great sound
The sound of this recording is really excellent. The orchestral playing is superb and balance with the singers for the most part is well-recorded.The singers are good, Schwarzenberg is a silvery-voiced Chrysostemis, and Eckert's Klytämnestra is powerful. Ludmila Dvorakova is good in the role, except the very highest notes are under strain - understandable! I was left feeling that she got through it very well, but I missed some of the other absolute fliers in the role - Anja Silja's live version on sale here blew me away for example. Her Orest scene is fantasic, maybe becuase ot avoids all the very highest notes, and she really draws you in to the emotion of that scene. The male characters are a bit one-size-fits-all but no complaints.The orchestra is super. Not sorry I spent the moneyStill. Excellent sound, a good live performance, a must have for Dvorakova fans
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✓ Top Reviewer
United Kingdom
