Tragedy in one act | Text by Hugo von Hofmannsthal after his own tragedy (1903), after Sophocles’ tragedy (approx. 413 B.C) | In German with supertitles | Playing time ca. 2 hours | No intermission
Elektra and Orestes have dedicated themselves to seeking revenge for their father’s death. Agamemnon, returning home, was slain in the bath by his wife Clytemnestra: She refused to forgive him for sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia. In these times of war and human sacrifice, betrayal and the killing of family members ignite new blood
Richard Strauss’ Elektra is both grand mythical drama and family tragedy in one. With its intoxicating expressivity and an orchestral apparatus unique for its time, the music is overwhelmingly alluring.