麻豆社

Greek tragedy meets modern psychology in Richard Strauss鈥檚 audacious opera. Elektra is determined to avenge the murder of her father Agamemnon by her mother Klyt盲mnestra 鈥� but will Klyt盲mnestra destroy her first?

Strauss evokes his characters鈥� larger-than-life emotions through massive orchestral forces and daring harmonies. Wild, violent episodes such as the epic confrontation between Elektra and her mother contrast with moments of exquisite tenderness, as when Agamemnon鈥檚 son Orest returns to this most dysfunctional of family homes.

Karina Canellakis conducts the 麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra and an outstanding cast. Leading dramatic sopranos Ingela Bergman and Vida Miknevi膷i奴t臈 perform the virtuoso roles of Elektra and Chrysothemis.

In the ancient palace of Mycenae, the enslaved princess Elektra mourns her murdered father, Agamemnon, killed by her mother, Klyt盲mnestra, and her mother's lover, Aegisth. Elektra lives only for revenge, obsessively communing with her father's spirit. Her gentler sister Chrysothemis yearns for a normal life and urges Elektra to overcome her hatred. Klyt盲mnestra, tormented by nightmares, asks Elektra for a remedy; Elektra taunts her with riddles about death. Elektra鈥檚 brother, Orest, is falsely pronounced dead, only to appear in disguise. Elektra recognises him, and the siblings are reunited. Orest enters the palace and slays Klyt盲mnestra. When Aegisth returns, he too is killed. Elektra, overwhelmed by the completion of the revenge, breaks into an ecstatic dance 鈥� and collapses dead.

Presented by Kate Molleson and recorded at Edinburgh's Usher Hall on 23 August 2026.

Richard Strauss: Elektra

Elektra 鈥�.. Ingela Brimberg
Chrysothemis 鈥�.. Vida Miknevi膷i奴t臈鈥�
Klyt盲mnestra 鈥�.. Karen Cargill
Orest 鈥�.. G眉nther Groissb枚ck鈥�
Aegisth 鈥�.. John Daszak
Orest's tutor 鈥�.. Barnaby Rea
Young servant 鈥�.. Lucas van Lierop
Old servant 鈥�.. Martin Snell
An overseer 鈥�.. Lee Bisset
First maid 鈥�.. Claudia Huckle
Second maid 鈥�.. Maria Schellenberg
Third maid & trainbearer of Klyt盲mnestra 鈥�.. Lea Shaw
Fourth maid & confidante of Klyt盲mnestra 鈥�.. Eleanor Dennis
Fifth maid 鈥�.. Emma Morwood
麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Karina Canellakis (conductor)

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