I was at this performance and it counts among the finest Elektras I have been at. Eva Marton, Rita Hunter (in concert in Melbourne), Gabriele Schnaut, Christine Goerke, Lisa Gasteen and (the much underrated) Jayne Casselman are just a handful of singers I have heard in this role. For me, only Zschau - although she tends to be a tad wild and squally at times - and Casselman were excellent singing actors, but in this excellent State Opera production, Beresford seems to have conceived his direction for the camera...little wonder as he was an excellent film director. The direction worked very well on stage and the playing from the pit is first rate, and it moves along superbly under Richard Armstrong. The one regret I have is never seeing Varnay in this role. I have every recording of her in the role and the 1953 Köln Radio recording is exceptional, not only for its performance, but for the quality of the actual recording. I also believe that you will never hear a more accurate reading of the (notes of the) role!
🎹 Bravo! The intensity of the singers and the orchestra is unmatched by any other Elektra performance I have ever seen... largely thanks to the superb pacing by the conductor. 🎹 Too bad it has not been released onto DVD.
John Stoddart should have been in last week's Australia Day honours for uploading this splendid document, while wonderful to have this piece if only for Zschau's performance (a wonderful dramatic stalwart for OA in the '90's - especially re: her Tosca, Aida, and her Walkure Brunnhilde) - even if one is even more grateful for being able to see the very rare footage of one of Australia's greatest Mezzo's (and Solti favourite), Yvonne Minton!
Zschau rhymes with WOW!! Thank you for this. Amazing acting bij Zschau, beautifully paced musical hysteria by Maestro Armstrong. But Ms Zschau: to be on stage with this intensity, intelligence, be this mad in character and sounding glorious from start to finish. I love and respect this lady!
It is great to see a staged version with Zschau. The concert version is great but this is better as she can throw herself more into the part. I saw her in Seattle and she was incredible. Great actress, emotional voice, huge sound, lots of charisma. I never saw Nilsson or Varnay, but Zschau was a good consolation performance. It was such a powerful performance. Maybe the most powerful I ever saw other than Stephanie Blythe as Amneris. Not everyone loved her but I sure did.
Thank you for posting. I've seen Marilyn Zschau here in Chicago, as Dyer's Wife and Elektra. She's great! So are Yvonne Minton and Claire Primrose. Richard Armstrong knows his Strauss! I enjoyed this production very much.
Hugo von Hofmannsthal based the libretto of Elektra on Sophocles, not Euripides as the presenter seems to think. The Sophocles is a very different kettle of fish.
Thank you! I’ve tried to collect every recording of Elektra; I guess I’m a bit obsessed myself! This is a very fine performance. I think my favorites are the DVD with Hildegard Behrens, under Levine. On CD, I’m partial to Varnay and, believe it or not, the Tate rendition with Gwyneth Jones. I saw Nilsson at the end of her career at the Met. Disappointed. And I simply don’t like the Solti bombast. Just my two-cents!
Lois Lancaster Well, considering that every famous conductor and musician recognizes Elektra as a masterpiece, maybe the issue is that it’s not your cup of tea.
@@foveauxbear At least I can promise I will not sound like a home alarm system siren that just went off, lol. These voice producers that you call singers could work extra at the police force as crowd disperser, lol.
@@wotan10950 The only conductor that can be counted as famous is Andre Rieu and I strongly doubt he ever will have any of this crap in one of his productions.
Marilyn Zschau is really amazing !!! 👏 ❤
Wow! what a great production!
I was at this performance and it counts among the finest Elektras I have been at. Eva Marton, Rita Hunter (in concert in Melbourne), Gabriele Schnaut, Christine Goerke, Lisa Gasteen and (the much underrated) Jayne Casselman are just a handful of singers I have heard in this role. For me, only Zschau - although she tends to be a tad wild and squally at times - and Casselman were excellent singing actors, but in this excellent State Opera production, Beresford seems to have conceived his direction for the camera...little wonder as he was an excellent film director. The direction worked very well on stage and the playing from the pit is first rate, and it moves along superbly under Richard Armstrong.
The one regret I have is never seeing Varnay in this role. I have every recording of her in the role and the 1953 Köln Radio recording is exceptional, not only for its performance, but for the quality of the actual recording. I also believe that you will never hear a more accurate reading of the (notes of the) role!
Thank you so much for this video!!! Zschau is one of the most amazing singing actresses and still very underestimated. Great performance!
🎹 Bravo! The intensity of the singers and the orchestra is unmatched by any other Elektra performance I have ever seen... largely thanks to the superb pacing by the conductor. 🎹 Too bad it has not been released onto DVD.
John Stoddart should have been in last week's Australia Day honours for uploading this splendid document, while wonderful to have this piece if only for Zschau's performance (a wonderful dramatic stalwart for OA in the '90's - especially re: her Tosca, Aida, and her Walkure Brunnhilde) - even if one is even more grateful for being able to see the very rare footage of one of Australia's greatest Mezzo's (and Solti favourite), Yvonne Minton!
Zschau rhymes with WOW!! Thank you for this. Amazing acting bij Zschau, beautifully paced musical hysteria by Maestro Armstrong. But Ms Zschau: to be on stage with this intensity, intelligence, be this mad in character and sounding glorious from start to finish. I love and respect this lady!
It is great to see a staged version with Zschau. The concert version is great but this is better as she can throw herself more into the part. I saw her in Seattle and she was incredible. Great actress, emotional voice, huge sound, lots of charisma. I never saw Nilsson or Varnay, but Zschau was a good consolation performance. It was such a powerful performance. Maybe the most powerful I ever saw other than Stephanie Blythe as Amneris. Not everyone loved her but I sure did.
wonderful----thank you
Thank you for posting. I've seen Marilyn Zschau here in Chicago, as Dyer's Wife and Elektra. She's great! So are Yvonne Minton and Claire Primrose. Richard Armstrong knows his Strauss! I enjoyed this production very much.
wow!!!!!!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
💞💞💞💫
Elektra: Marily Zschau, soprano
Chrysothemis: Claire Primrose, soprano
Klytaemnestra: Yvonne Minton, mezzo soprano
Aegisth: Robert Gard, tenor
Orest: Florian Cerny, baritone
The Trainbearer: Lynne Smythe, soprano
The Confidante: Daphne Harris, soprano
Young Servant: Brian Gilbertson, tenor
Guardian of Orest: James Orange, bass
Old Servant: Ian Vayne, bass
First Maid: Isabel Veale, contralto
Second Maid: Virginia Rawlinson, soprano
Third Maid: Guila Tiver, mezzo soprano
Fourth Maid: Wendy Dixon, soprano
Fifth Maid: Judith Henley, soprano
Overseer: Belinda Matonti, soprano
Hugo von Hofmannsthal based the libretto of Elektra on Sophocles, not Euripides as the presenter seems to think. The Sophocles is a very different kettle of fish.
Thank you! I’ve tried to collect every recording of Elektra; I guess I’m a bit obsessed myself! This is a very fine performance. I think my favorites are the DVD with Hildegard Behrens, under Levine. On CD, I’m partial to Varnay and, believe it or not, the Tate rendition with Gwyneth Jones. I saw Nilsson at the end of her career at the Met. Disappointed. And I simply don’t like the Solti bombast. Just my two-cents!
Underwhelming!
OMG. Do the artists and audience really take this shouting and squeaking seriously. Difficult find a word. Perhaps bspretentious crap will do.
Lois Lancaster Well, considering that every famous conductor and musician recognizes Elektra as a masterpiece, maybe the issue is that it’s not your cup of tea.
@ Yoga Jedi ....you seemed to be the biggest idiot ever left a critic on here. save your 2 braincells for your miserable life ......
i'd like to critic your singing, please up load...
@@foveauxbear At least I can promise I will not sound like a home alarm system siren that just went off, lol. These voice producers that you call singers could work extra at the police force as crowd disperser, lol.
@@wotan10950 The only conductor that can be counted as famous is Andre Rieu and I strongly doubt he ever will have any of this crap in one of his productions.