HILDEGARD BEHRENS' ELEKTRA at VERONA

Richard Strauss' Elektra is a one-act opera of spousal slaughter and matricide, yet none of the internecine struggles takes place onstage. Instead the inherent violence of the plot is vividly conveyed by Strauss' powerfully dissonant and richly orchestrated music, and the drama is structured as a series of scenes for Elektra, with the action taking place largely in Elektra's mind. Elektra is thus omnipresent on stage - alone or with one of the other characters in the opera.

Listen to some music clips while viewing the slideshow and you'll discover that Elektra has its great moments of lyricism (click note icon at right). The scenes above are from the first Elektra production of the Arena di Verona (January/February 2003) and highlight the exquisite artistry of Hildegard Behrens; musical direction is by Christian Arming.

- Photos: courtesy ©CFI

Click HERE to view scenes from Ms. Behrens' ELEKTRA at the MET and HERE for a video clip of her ELEKTRA's MONOLOGUE from the Trier Antikenfestspiele production.

Follow Ms. Behrens' fascinating ROADMAP to ELEKTRA>>>.
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