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"Elektra" was the sensation of the Beecham London Opera season of 1910, the opera being then performed in England for the first time. It had been produced in Dresden only the year before, since which event it was the chief work of its class to challenge the world’s verdict. On the whole, that verdict has been that it displays Richard Strauss’ genius at its best and worst.
The story dealt with is a somber one -- a Teutonic version of Sophocles’ great tragedy. Clytemnestra, with the aid of her paramour Aegistheus, has procured the murder of her husband Agamemnon, and is now in fear of the discovery of her guilt by her children, Elektra, Chrysothemis, and their banished brother Orestes. Elektra, who is the embodiment of vehement lust for vengeance, endeavours to persuade her meeker and shrinking sister to kill the guilty pair. Before the design is carried out Orestes, whose death had been announced, appears, and when he learns from Elektra the fearful truth, he resolves himself to avenge his mother’s crime. He kills Clytemnestra and Aegistheus, and Elektra, in a delirious joy-dance, falls dead before her horror-stricken attendants. This is the tragic end of the play. There is only one scene -- an inner courtyard bounded by the back of a palace.
ATTENTION: The actual beginning time for performances at the Vienna State Opera indicated with 00:00 have been not yet announced, actual beginning time of those performances will be published by the Vienna State Opera and on our web site at latest 1 month in advance.
Dates:
| June 2012: | | | | | |
| September 2012: | | | |
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