Elektra (Complete Opera)

Philips continues their healthy habit of adding more opera titles to the Compact Opera series with a reissue of Richard Strauss's masterpiece Elektra.

Hildegard Behrens was born to play the title role and finds herself in the pleasant company of renowned mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig, who is equally respected for her interpretation of German Romantic repertoire.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra and Seiji Ozawa guarantee exuberant playing and the smashing orchestral sound that is needed for this opera. All this is wonderfully caught by Philips engineers.

For a long time this recording was only available at top price; but now it is available on two CDs for the price of only one Top price CD.

"Ozawa's reading isn't quite as nervously exciting or subjective as some … but its cumulative effect is tremendous. While yielding nothing to his predecessors in unleashing the desperate, psychotic power of the huge, revolutionary climaxes, Ozawa manages to make much of the score"
Gramophone