In memoriam: HILDEGARD BEHRENS as ELEKTRA
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The METROPOLITAN OPERA's OPENING NIGHT performance
of ELEKTRA on December 10, 2009
was dedicated to the memory of
HILDEGARD BEHRENS
for whom this production was originally mounted in 1992.

~~~

"ELEKTRA SINGS FOR HILDEGARD"

.....Oh let my eyes
Gaze at you, a vision in a dream, a vision
granted to me, fairer than any dream!
Noble, ineffable, sublime features,
Oh stay by me! Do not melt
into air, do not vanish from my sight.

Do you see my face?
Do you see the light that
shines out of me?

Can I not hear it? Not hear
the music? It comes from myself.

Goodness has poured from the gods
and brought it about.

Splendor is not too much for us.
I have sown the seeds of adversity and
reaped joy upon joy!

I am the fire of life
And my flame burns up the darkness
in the world.

I know they are all waiting
For I must lead the dance.

And they who still live
Can exult and rejoice in life!

An arrangement assembled by C. McKinnon from the poetry of Hugo von Hoffmansthal written for Richard Strauss' ELEKTRA as translated for the libretto accompanying the Boston Symphony Orchestra recording (Philips 422 574-2), SEIJI OZAWA conducting, with HILDEGARD BEHRENS in the title role. The lines can be found on pages 126, 154, 150, 152, 150 and 96, respectively.