Elektra, Op. 58, is a one-act opera by Richard Strauss, to a German-language libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, which he adapted from his 1903 drama Elektra. The opera was the first of many collaborations between Strauss and Hofmannsthal. It was finished in 1908, and first performed at the Königliches Opernhaus in Dresden on 25 January 1909 with Annie Krull in the leading role. It was dedicated to his friends Natalie and Willy Levin.
History
While based on ancient Greek mythology and Sophocles' tragedy Electra, the opera is highly modernist and expressionist in style. Hofmannsthal's and Strauss's adaptation of the story focuses tightly on Elektra, thoroughly developing her character by single-mindedly expressing her emotions and psychology as she meets with other characters, mostly one at a time. (The order of these conversations closely follows Sophocles' play.) The other characters are Klytaemnestra, her mother and one of the murderers of her father Agamemnon; her sister, Chrysothemis; her brother, Orest; and Klytaemnestra's lover, Aegisth.
Various aspects from the myth are minimized as background to Elektra's character and her obsession. Other facets of the ancient story are completely excluded, in particular the earlier sacrifice by Agamemnon of his and Klytaemnestra's daughter Iphigenia, which was the motivation for Klytaemnestra's subsequent murder of Agamemnon. These changes tightened the focus on Elektra's furious lust for revenge. The result is a very modern, expressionistic retelling of the ancient Greek myth. Compared to Sophocles's Electra, the opera presents raw, brutal, violent, and bloodthirsty horror. Some scholars detect hints of incest in Elektra's dysfunctional family relationships. Norwegian musicologist Ståle Wikshåland has analysed the use of time and temporality in the dramaturgy of Elektra.
Elektra is the second of Strauss's two highly modernist operas (the other being Salome),Richard Strauss by Tim Ashley 1999, 20th-century composers Series characterized by cacophonous sections and atonal leitmotifs.Richard Strauss's 'Elektra, B. Gilliam. 1996. Clarendon Press. These works contrast highly with his earliest operas and his later period. The reception of Elektra in German-speaking countries was mostly divided along traditionalist and modernist lines.
Performance history
Elektra is one of the most frequently performed operas based on classical Greek mythology, with a performance lasting—like the composer's earlier Salome—around 100 minutes. Elektra received its UK premiere at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1910 with Edyth Walker in the title role and Thomas Beecham conducting at the first- ever performance of a Strauss opera in the UK.Allen Jefferson, The Operas of Richard Strauss 1910–1963, Putnam, London, 1963, p. 9. The first United States performance of the opera in the original German was given by the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company at the Academy of Music on 29 October 1931, with Anne Roselle in the title role, Charlotte Boerner as Chrysothemis, Margarete Matzenauer as Klytaemnestra, Nelson Eddy as Orest, and Fritz Reiner conducting. The opera made its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on 3 December 1932, with Gertrude Kappel singing the title role and Artur Bodanzky conducting.
Roles
+RolesVoice typePremiere, 25 January 1909Conductor: Ernst von SchuchElektra (Electra), Agamemnon's daughterhigh dramatic sopranoAnnie KrullChrysothemis, her sistersopranoMargarethe SiemsKlytaemnestra (Clytemnestra), their mother, Agamemnon's widow and killercontralto or mezzo-sopranoErnestine Schumann-HeinkHer confidantesopranoGertrud SachseHer trainbearersopranoElisabeth Boehm von EndertA young servanttenorFritz SootAn old servantbassFranz NebuschkaOrest (Orestes), son of AgamemnonbaritoneKarl PerronOrest's tutorbassJulius PuttlitzAegisth (Aegisthus), Klytaemnestra's paramourtenorJohannes SembachAn overseersopranoRiza EibenschützFirst maidcontraltoFranziska Bender-SchäferSecond maidsopranoMagdalene SeebeThird maidmezzo-sopranoIrma TervaniFourth maidsopranoAnna ZoderFifth maidsopranoMinnie NastMen and women of the household
Synopsis
Before the opera begins, Agamemnon sacrifices Iphigenia by deceit and leaves for the Trojan War. Upon his return, he is murdered by Klytaemnestra and her lover Aegisthus, who was a cousin to Agamemnon prompting fears of revenge from their children, Elektra, Chrysothemis, and the exiled Orest. Elektra remains at court to honor her father’s memory, while enduring hostility from her mother and the household.
Plot
"Wo bleibt Elektra?" ("Where is Elektra?") Five servants try to wash the courtyard of the palace in Mycenae. While they do their work, they ask where can Elektra be, and she emerges from the shadows with a wild look on her face. The servants continue commenting how she came to be in that state and talk about how they taunt her only to receive insults from her. Only one servant shows sympathy for her, but she is taken away by the overseer to be flogged.The libretto is in the form of one continuous narrative with no section breaks. The sections here follow the DVD chapter breaks of the 2010 production at the Salzburg Festival.
"Allein! Weh, ganz allein." ("Alone! Alas, all alone.") Elektra comes back for her daily ritual in memory of her father, who upon his return from Troy was killed while bathing by Klytaemnestra and Aegisth and dragged out into the courtyard. Elektra now starts imagining the day when her father will be avenged and then of the ensuing celebration in which she will lead the triumphal dance.
"Elektra!" Chrysothemis enters the courtyard. Unlike Elektra, she is meek and accommodating, and has remained on decent terms with Klytaemnestra and Aegisth. However, she cares for the welfare of her sister. She tells Elektra that their mother plans to lock Elektra in a tower, where no daylight will enter. Elektra laughs at this plan. Elektra asks where Chrysothemis heard it. When she tells her that she heard it at the Queen's door, Elektra screams that there is nothing to find in this house but death. She might as well sit and wish death on her mother and stepfather, as Elektra does.
"Ich kann nicht sitzen und ins Dunkel starren." ("I can not sit and stare into the darkness.") Chrysothemis does not wish to go on living a half-death in her own house: she wants to leave, marry and raise children.
"Es geht ein Lärm los." ("What tumult is this?") As loud sounds are heard inside, Elektra mocks her sister that it is her wedding party. In reality, it is Klytaemnestra, who has just been awakened by her own nightmares. She goes with a large processional on her way to appease the gods through sacrifice. Chrysothemis tells Elektra that Klytaemnestra dreams of Orest murdering her. Chrysothemis begs Elektra not to stir trouble with Klytaemnestra today. She tells her that when their mother is scared, she is the most vicious. Elektra shuns her sister's pleas, telling her that she will speak to her mother as never before. Chrysothemis flees the courtyard.
"Was willst du? Seht doch, dort!" ("What do you want? Behold, there!") Klytaemnestra stops at the sight of Elektra and wishes that she were not there to disturb her. She asks the gods for the reason for her burdens, but Elektra appeases her by telling her mother that she is a goddess herself.
"Ich will nichts hören!" ("I don't want to hear anything.") Despite the protests of the Trainbearer and Confidante, Klytaemnestra climbs down to talk to Elektra. She passionately remembers her years of motherhood with her daughter. She accuses her retinue of being contradictory in their justifications of her nightmares, so she relies on her daughter for a true interpretation.
"Ich habe keine guten Nächte." ("I have no good nights.") Klytaemnestra confides to her daughter that she has been suffering nightmares every night and that she still has not found the way to appease the gods. But, she claims, once that happens, she will be able to sleep again.
"Wenn das rechte Blutopfer unterm Beile fällt." ("When the right blood under the hatchet flows.") Elektra teases her mother with little pieces of information about the right victim that must be slain, but she changes the conversation to her brother and why he is not allowed back. To Elektra's horror, Klytaemnestra says that he has become mad and keeps company with animals. She responds that this is not true and that all the gold that her mother has sent was not being used to support her son but to have him killed. Angered by this, Klytaemnestra goes off on an insane tirade, telling Elektra that she would give the proper information for a rite and sacrificial victim if she were starved.
"Was bluten muß? Dein eigenes Genick." ("Who must bleed? Your own throat.") Then Elektra reveals who is to be the actual victim: it is Klytaemnestra herself. She goes on to describe how the gods must be appeased once and for all. She must be awakened and chased around the house just like an animal that is being hunted. Only when she wishes that all was over and after envying prisoners in their cells, she will come to realize that her prison is her own body. At that time, the axe, with which she killed her husband and which will be handed to Orest by Elektra, will fall upon her. Only then the dreams will stop.
"Lichter! Mehr Lichter" ("Lights! More lights!") The Trainbearer and Confidante enter and whisper to her. Klytaemnestra laughs hysterically and, mocking Elektra, leaves. Elektra wonders what has made her mother laugh.This DVD chapter title is taken from libretto stage directions that Klytaemnestra makes signs calling for lights. The words are not sung. In some productions, they are spoken by Klytaemnestra or The Trainbearer or the Confidante.
"Orest! Orest ist tot!" ("Orest! Orest is dead!") Chrysothemis comes bolting into the courtyard. She says that two messengers have arrived with the news that Orest is dead, trampled by his own horses. Elektra screams that it is not true. Both sisters sink to the ground in misery.
"Platz da! Wer lungert so vor einer Tür?" ("Give way! Who spies thus upon the threshold?") As a young servant comes out of the house to fetch the master, he trips over Elektra and Chrysothemis.
"Nun muß es hier von uns geschehn." ("It is for us to act now.") Elektra does not relent and a terrified Chrysothemis listens as her sister demands that she help her to avenge their father.
"Wie stark du bist." ("How strong you are.") Elektra goes on to praise her sister and her beauty, promising that she shall become Chrysothemis's slave at her bridal chamber in exchange for the assistance in her task. Chrysothemis fights off her sister and flees. Elektra curses her.
"Nun denn, allein!" ("Well, alone!") Determined to do it alone, she digs for the axe that killed her father, but is interrupted by a mysterious man who comes into the courtyard.
"Was willst du, fremder Mensch?" ("What do you want, stranger?") She hears that he is expecting to be called from within the palace because he has a message for the lady of the house. He claims to be a friend of Orest, and says that he was with him at the time of his death.
"Wer bist denn du?" ("Who are you?") Elektra grieves. The man first guesses that she must be a blood relative of Orest and Agamemnon, then, upon asking her name, discovers she is Elektra.
"Orest!" Then, taken aback, she recognizes him: it is Orest who has come back in disguise. Elektra is initially ecstatic, but also ashamed of what she has become and how she has sacrificed her own royal state for the cause.
"Du wirst es tun? Allein? Du armes Kind?" ("You'll do it? Alone? Poor child?") Orest's Tutor comes and interrupts the siblings; their task is dangerous and anything can jeopardize it. The Trainbearer and Confidante come out of the palace and lead Orest in.
"Ich habe ihm das Beil nicht geben können!" ("I could not give him the axe!")