Elektra: ROH

[makropulos]

Email just received from ROH:
Sadly, Nina Stemme has withdrawn from singing the role of Elektra in this evening's performance due to illness. The role of Elektra will be performed by Ausrine Stundyte who makes her highly anticipated Covent Garden debut ahead of performing the title role in The Royal Opera’s Tosca next month.

Very sorry about Nina Stemme, but Stundyte has sung Elektra several times in Austria/Germany, so she could be an exciting substitute.

[Master Jacques]

Email just received from ROH:
Sadly, Nina Stemme has withdrawn from singing the role of Elektra in this evening's performance due to illness. The role of Elektra will be performed by Ausrine Stundyte who makes her highly anticipated Covent Garden debut ahead of performing the title role in The Royal Opera’s Tosca next month.

Very sorry about Nina Stemme, but Stundyte has sung Elektra several times in Austria/Germany, so she could be an exciting substitute.

Yes indeed: I'm told Stundyte will have been on call thoroughout during Stemme's absence, and could well provide what's needed. I'm not surprised by the news, given the serious difficulties Nina Stemme has had with that most unluckily broken wrist. I hope she makes a swift recovery.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Email just received from ROH:
Sadly, Nina Stemme has withdrawn from singing the role of Elektra in this evening's performance due to illness. The role of Elektra will be performed by Ausrine Stundyte who makes her highly anticipated Covent Garden debut ahead of performing the title role in The Royal Opera’s Tosca next month.

Very sorry about Nina Stemme, but Stundyte has sung Elektra several times in Austria/Germany, so she could be an exciting substitute.

Sorry to hear that. It doesn’t surprise me as things didn’t seem 100 per cent at rehearsal. I’m going tonight ….could be an exciting evening.

[Barbirollians]

I suspect voice rather than wrist.I thought it was terrific all round Karita Mattila channelling an unhinged Zsa Zsa Gabor - Ausrine Stundyte was superb as indeed were Pappano and the ROH - Sara Jakukusk too some voice .

[Ein Heldenleben]

I suspect voice rather than wrist.I thought it was terrific all round Jarita Msttios channelling an unhinged Zsa Zsa Gabor - Ausrine Stundyte was superb as indeed were Pappano and the ROH - Sara Jakukusk too some voice .

Yes a magnificent night.

[makropulos]

Yes a magnificent night.

Completely agree! Jakubiak was marvellous as was Stundyte. Pappano and the orch sounded glorious. A memorable evening and an intelligent production.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I was too shattered by it all to write much last night but that was one of the great nights at Covent Garden. Pappano and orchestra were incandescent. Stundyte sang beautifully and put in one of the best acting performances I’ve seen on an opera stage . She captured every nuance of the character. She completely nailed all those high notes with no strain - but perhaps the voice could be a bit louder in places. Mattila was splendidly elegant and creepy as the same time - wonderfully repellent . And singer of the night was Jukubiak. A wonderful performance.

Master Jaques was right and the critics largely wrong . The drama made complete sense and Loy had obviously produced every tiny detail of the actors’ gestures and movement. He was very lucky to find a lead actress who could so completely convey his vision.
.

[Master Jacques]

I'm only sorry not to have heard Ausrine Stundyte, who from all accounts here sounds the real deal.

[makropulos]

I'm only sorry not to have heard Ausrine Stundyte, who from all accounts here sounds the real deal.

Absolutely - vocally very impressive and a wonderfully credible stage presence too. I feel a visit to next month’s Tosca coming on if I can get a ticket.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Absolutely - vocally very impressive and a wonderfully credible stage presence too. I feel a visit to next month’s Tosca coming on if I can get a ticket.

I was thinking the same thing There seem quite a few left. I do have tickets for the dress though . Strikes me with her raven hair and dark good looks as well as singing and acting ability she was born to play the role.

[Simon B]

Ausrine Stundyte took over from Nina Stemme again tonight. Thankfully no vocal difficulties for her. That said, to my ears Sara Jakubiak once again sang everyone else off the stage.

Is it just my cloth ears or does Karita Mattila's voice not have the slice to really get through the orchestra in this particular role? Thinking about it, 100% of previous live Elektras for me (6 that I can recall) had Felicity Palmer as Klytämnestra, pretty much eating the scenery in a good way and with a voice that could have cut through Strauss at full blast. A hard act to follow perhaps?

Again, the orchestra were the clear stars of the night for this audience member.

[makropulos]

Ausrine Stundyte took over from Nina Stemme again tonight. Thankfully no vocal difficulties for her. That said, to my ears Sara Jakubiak once again sang everyone else off the stage.

Is it just my cloth ears or does Karita Mattila's voice not have the slice to really get through the orchestra in this particular role? Thinking about it, 100% of previous live Elektras for me (6 that I can recall) had Felicity Palmer as Klytämnestra, pretty much eating the scenery in a good way and with a voice that could have cut through Strauss at full blast. A hard act to follow perhaps?

Again, the orchestra were the clear stars of the night for this audience member.

On the basis of Monday night, I'd very much agree about Mattila – hers is a lovely voice but it has too soft an edge for Klytämnestra. Felicity Palmer was stunning, as were – as far as I remember – her predecessors that I heard at ROH: Marjana Lipovšek back in 1990 and Kerstin Meyer in 1973.

[duncan]

I was too shattered by it all to write much last night but that was one of the great nights at Covent Garden. Pappano and orchestra were incandescent. Stundyte sang beautifully and put in one of the best acting performances I’ve seen on an opera stage . She captured every nuance of the character. She completely nailed all those high notes with no strain - but perhaps the voice could be a bit louder in places. Mattila was splendidly elegant and creepy as the same time - wonderfully repellent . And singer of the night was Jukubiak. A wonderful performance.

Master Jaques was right and the critics largely wrong . The drama made complete sense and Loy had obviously produced every tiny detail of the actors’ gestures and movement. He was very lucky to find a lead actress who could so completely convey his vision.
.

I also thought it was tremendous. The performance emphasised the forward-looking elements of the piece: Wozzeck was on the horizon.

Stundyte gave a totally committed performance, one of the best pieces of acting I've seen at Covent Garden for some time. How much of this was due to Loy's direction and how much from her I don't know but the overall effect was gripping. Jukubiak was the pick of the sopranos vocally, but in a rather less vocally demanding role. Mattila had presence in spades and was clearly audible from the lower slips, almost directly above the side of the stage, but perhaps less so from more expensive seats. A memorable evening, Pappano going out on a high.

[Barbirollians]

I rather liked Mattila's approach - Klytamnestra came across as less one dimensional than I might have expected - of course the opera leaves out why she did Agamemnon in - his sacrifice of Elektra's sister Iphigenie.

[Keraulophone]

I don't think I can add anything to the praises sung above about this production. Experiencing Elektra on Tuesday in the opera house for the first time, I was completely transfixed from start to finish, such was the unceasing intensity of the music, including the lyrical moments, and the high quality of the singing and orchestral playing. Here's the view of the smiling cast from row C of the amphitheatre, from where the sound and balance were excellent (minimal leg room is the issue up there).