»Noble simplicity and quiet grandeur«? Not at all! With their breathtaking opera shocker »Elektra«, Richard Strauss and his librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal completely overturned the romanticised image of antiquity prevalent in the 18th century. Horror instead of humanism, revenge instead of glory, bloodshed instead of cultural blossoming: this one-act opera still leaves no one unmoved today. Strauss also went to extremes in every respect in the musical language with his mammoth orchestra. This is particularly impressive to experience when Alan Gilbert performs the work for the first time in the Grand Hall of the Elbphilharmonie. Following Ligeti’s »Le Grand Macabre«, Dvořák’s »Rusalka«, Gershwin’s »Porgy and Bess« and Berg’s »Wozzeck«, the chief conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and the Royal Opera in Stockholm continues his series of enthusiastically acclaimed performances of concert operas on the River Elbe.
PERFORMERS
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester orchestra
NDR Vokalensemble choir
Karita Mattila soprano
Ingela Brimberg soprano
Christina Nilsson soprano
Benjamin Bruns tenor
Andreas Bauer Kanabas bass
Layla Claire soprano
Marie Henriette Reinhold mezzo-soprano
Ida Aldrian mezzo-soprano
Marie-Luise Dreßen mezzo-soprano
Olivia Boen soprano
Chelsea Zurflüh soprano
Fabian Kuhnen bass
Alexandra Hebart mezzo-soprano
Chloe Lankshear soprano
Liam Bonthrone tenor
Andreas Heinemeyer bass
Alan Gilbert conductor
PROGRAM
Richard Strauss
Elektra
Semi-staged performance with surtitles
