Despite being the reigning dramatic soprano of her time—arguably of any time—Birgit Nilsson avoided the role of Elektra until she was nearly 50. This Stockholm performance captures her first run in this punishing role, proving that the wait was well worth it. Her voice here sounds just slightly smoother than in the later Solti recording, and her characterization is already well-formed. One of Nilsson’s most underappreciated qualities was her outstanding musicianship. Elektra is not only fiendishly difficult to sing, but its ever-shifting patterns, meters, and complex harmonies pose immense challenges. Nilsson deserves special praise for delivering such a musically assured performance. Berit Lindholm sings with fervor as Chrysothemis, while Barbro Ericson impresses by both maintaining attractive tone and conveying Klytämnestra’s grotesque decay. The sound quality is only fair. The singers come through beautifully but much of the detail in the orchestra gets lost.