Search - Richard [1] Strauss, Jeffrey Tate, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande :: Richard Strauss: Elektra

Intense and Magnificent with Jones and Rysanek

The Cultural Observer | 07/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For the longest time, I've been waiting for this recording to come to U.S. shores, and here it is finally. Richard Strauss' Elektra relies on the prima donna to carry the show, and with the great soprano Gwyneth Jones as Elektra, I don't believe there is anything lacking in this recording. She is probably the best Elektra on disc, even better than Birgit Nilsson, due to Jones' sexually characterized and noble interpretation of the role. It is a most provocative performance, exciting from the first bar to the last, and I find it more thrilling than any of the great recordings mentioned in the past, even more so than that of Sir Georg Solti. Jeffrey Tate leads the Orchestra of the Theatre de Geneve with a most Straussian hand, allowing the polyphonic colors to come out of the score and to exude that certain dementia associated with the opera. It is a most masterful performance. Another great artist who must be mentioned is Leonie Rysanek, a once Chrysothemis and Elektra who now sings the demanding mezzo role of Klytamnestra. Her confrontation with Elektra is the stuff legends are made off, and it simply is a must hear when you hear Jones singing like a goddess onstage with Rysanek combatting the great soprano with a power of her own. In the role of Chrysothemis, we have the British soprano Anne Evans, who had sung Brunnhilde in Bayreuth earlier. She is probably one of the freshest and youngest sounding sopranos I've heard tackling the part. Finally, in the role of Orest, we have Wolfgang Schoene, a great baritone who shows great sensitivity in his singing and vocalizing.



Is this the definitive Elektra? Since it comes in excellent sound with two of the most monstrous forces in all of opera, I would say...yes. Grab this before it goes out of print."

A total triumph!

Dag Kyndel | Hölö, Sweden | 07/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was indeed surprised when I listened to this Elektra. And I have about 30-40 complete Elektras in my collection. In this recording Miss Jones has gone through a total transformation. No wobbling and a total, absolute commitment, a marvel!"

Wow! A great and wonderful Elektra!

Michael Stephens | Chicago, IL USA | 08/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This magnificent souvenir of the live Geneva Elektra with Dame Gwyneth Jones is surely now the best recorded version, and unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon. Tate conducts this stupendous score perfectly. Buy it as soon you can.



Interestingly, I also attended one of the SF Opera performances of Elektra in 1991 referred to by Mr. Lazar in another post here. He's not exaggerating -- it was THE opera experience of my life, an astonishingly great performance by the much-criticized Jones which transcended a muddled Serban production. I was one of the noisemakers at the end, howling like a wolf because I was so excited -- nay, overwhelmed, thunderstruck! I had to laugh listening to some of the "aficionados" quibble about Jones' wobble and other minor imperfections, seemingly unaware that they were missing one of the most thrilling vocal/dramatic achievements in this very difficult music.



To me, the only other performance of any opera which has ever come as close in sheer impact was last spring's stunning Wozzeck in San Diego with Fritz Hawlata supreme in a truly marvelous production. Sadly, there were many empty seats in their big house...Wozzeck ain't Butterfly.



And neither is Elektra. This ia a great, must-have performance if you are a lover of the wild side of Richard Strauss, or simply great musical theater."