ELEKTRA
First performed on 25 January 1909 in Dresden
CAST (in order of appearance)
Five Maidservants
- Margarita Lilowa, Gabriele Sima, Margareta Hintermeier,
Brigitte Poschner-Klebel, Joanna Borowska
Overseer - Gabriele Lechner
Klytämnestra's Confidante - Waltraud Winsauer
Klytämnestra's Trainbearer- Noriko Sasaki
Young Servant - Wilfried Gahmlich
Old Servant - Claudio Otelli
Orest's Guardian - Goran Simic
Chorus and Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera conducted by Claudio Abbado
Directed by Harry Kupfer
Recorded in 1989 at the Vienna State Opera
Sung in German, with English subtitles
SYNOPSIS
In the courtyard of the palace of Agamemnon, murdered king of Mycenae, servant girls comment on the insane behavior of Elektra, Agamemnon's eldest daughter. Elektra herself suddenly runs past like an animal looking for a burrow to hide in. The maids think she should be locked up and turn on the youngest of their number when she defends the princess, dragging the girl off to be flogged. When they have gone, Elektra returns ("Allein! Weh, ganz allein"), bemoaning her father's murder at the hands of her mother, Klytämnestra, and her mother's lover, Aegisth. Calling on her father's spirit, she vows vengeance.
Her fantasy is interrupted by her younger sister, Chrysothemis, who warns Elektra that Klytämnestra is in fact planning to lock her up. If only Elektra would stop threatening their mother, they could live a normal life as wives and mothers instead of being pent up in the palace ("Ich hab's wie Feuer in der Brust"). Gruesome noises herald Klytämnestra and her retinue. Chrysothemis begs Elektra to avoid a confrontation, but the proud princess remains to face her mother.
Supported by her Confidante and Trainbearer, Klytämnestra staggers in, weighted with talismans to ward off evil. Alone with her daughter, encouraged by Elektra's apparent willingness to talk things out, Klytämnestra confides in her ("Ich habe keine guten Nächte"). Loss of sleep and fear of retribution are making a wreck of her, she says - what can she do? Elektra replies that her mother has been making the wrong sacrifices - what is required on the altar is the blood of an impure woman, and the slaying must be done by a man, "of this house but a stranger". Confused yet hopeful, the queen tries to sort this out, but Elektra suddenly asks about Orest, her brother - when is he coming home? She accuses her mother of arranging his death, and when challenged to name the needed sacrificial victim ("Was bluten muss?"), Elektra screams that it is Klytämnestra herself. The queen is shaken, but when her Confidante bursts in and whispers something to her, Klytämnestra's mood changes. Laughing maniacally, she leaves.
The mystery is soon explained by Chrysothemis - Orest is reported dead, trampled by his own horse. Her dream of the prodigal's homecoming and revenge gone, Elektra tells her sister they must kill the guilty rulers themselves. When the girl flees, Elektra remains undaunted and starts to dig for the ax she has buried against the fateful day of justice. Now a stranger enters, interrupting her (recognition scene: "Was willst du, fremder Mensch?"). He takes her for a servant, so vile is her appearance, and announces himself as a messenger with news of Orest's death. Elektra is close to despair, but in growing awareness she sees old servants kneel at the messenger's feet. Trembling, Elektra asks his identity. "The dogs of the house know me," he says, "but not my own sister!" Crying his name, Elektra falls into Orest's arms. In the almost unbearable calm ("Es rührt sich niemand"), she tells him that she has lived only for his return so they could avenge Agamemnon's murder. That is what he has come to do, he says. Then Orest's Guardian tells him the queen waits inside, and the men enter. Klytämnestra's agonized shriek soon cuts the air offstage. "Strike again!" is Elektra's response. Fearful for their lives, hysterical maids run into the courtyard, followed by Chrysothemis. In the darkness - for night has fallen - Aegisth happens in, calling for light. Elektra gives him a torch and he goes inside, only to appear at a window seconds later, screaming. "Agamemnon hears you!" exults Elektra - this is her moment of victory. Chrysothemis comes out to confirm that Orest has avenged their father's murder. Alone again, Elektra breaks into a dance of celebration ("Schweig' und tanze!"). But the release of so much pent-up tension proves too much for her exhausted body, and she falls lifeless.
