Prom 59 - 31.08.14: Elektra, BBC SO, Bychkov

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sunday 31 August
7.30 p.m. – c. 9.25 p.m.
Royal Albert Hall

Richard Strauss's Elektra. Semyon Bychkov conducts a starry international cast, the BBC SO & BBC Singers in this powerful retelling of the Greek revenge myth.

Presented by Andrew McGregor
Elektra: Christine Goerke (Soprano)
Orestes: Johan Reuter (Baritone)
Chrysothemis: Gun-Brit Barkmin (Soprano)
Clytemnestra: Dame Felicity Palmer (Mezzo-Soprano)
Aegisthus: Robert Kuenzli (Tenor)
Orestes' Tutor: Jongmin Park (Bass)
Young Servant: Ivan Tursic (Tenor)
Overseer: Miranda Keys (Soprano)
1st Maid: Katarina Bradic (Mezzo-Soprano)
2nd Maid: Zoryana Kushpler (Mezzo-Soprano)
3rd Maid: Hanna Hipp (Mezzo-Soprano)
4th Maid: Marie-Eve Munger (Soprano)
5th Maid: Iris Kupke (Soprano)
Confidante: BBC Singers Stepout 1 (Soprano)
Trainbearer: BBC Singers Stepout 2 (Soprano)
Old Servant: BBC Singers Stepout 3 (Bass)

BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (Conductor)

With a libretto by Hofmannsthal which focusses on Elektra's psychological state, Strauss's brutal and ferociously compelling interpretation of the ancient Greek orginal, premiered in 1909, is highly modernist and expressionist. It's brought to life by Semyon Bychkov, a long-time champion of his music. The cast is led by American soprano Christine Goerke, who recently dazzled in the title-role at the Royal Opera House, with Danish baritone Johan Reuter as her beloved brother Orestes.

In Greek mythology, Electra was the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. She and her brother Orestes plotted revenge against their mother Clytemnestra and stepfather Aegisthus for the murder of their father, Agamemnon.

[Nick Armstrong]

Capable of being a riveting experience live - I heard Solti do it and it seemed like one huge, electrifying () paragraph of music, after which one had the impression of not having taken a breath.... I'm sure Bychkov could pull it off - but don't I remember he was indisposed? Hope not.

And then... there's the singers I hope they're up to it / not annoying. Don't know any of them except Dame FP.

PS ... it's all a bit off-piste for the BBC Singers! I bet they're looking forward to it!

[Prommer]

No, he has hurt his hip but this is his first engagement back in the saddle. I will be at this too. I much prefer it as an opera to Salome, and Goerke was a stunning Elektra at the ROH this time last year. Johann Reuter and Felicity Palmer are outstanding in these roles too. What a weekend in store!

[DracoM]

Yes, Caliban, believe it or not, but Elektra was the very first opera I ever went to. Enterprising Music teacher at school organised a trip - just for six of us. Even at that age, and mega-ignorance level, the impact was fantastic. I can still remember the shock of those first chords in a darkened theatre. Saw Nilsson later at ROCG / Solti - and that was unforgettable. I seem to recall she sang much of the opening five minutes on stage, lying flat on her belly?

[Prommer]

Ah but Draco, Sir Salty is one thing, but did you see/hear Carlos Kleiber conduct Elektra in '77 with Nilsson?

[DracoM]

'Fraid not.

[Prommer]

Anyone? Would love to hear about it. Have rather a piratical recording of it (Oofy Prosser in Stalls Row J, I'd say, with a dodgy bit of equipment), in moderate sound - which is nevertheless amazing - but would love to hear from anyone who was there…

In the 'old days', how DID any of these things ever get recorded 'in-house'…? Did people smuggle a suitcase in or what?!

[pastoralguy]

Anyone? Would love to hear about it. Have rather a piratical recording of it (Oofy Prosser in Stalls Row J, I'd say, with a dodgy bit of equipment), in moderate sound - which is nevertheless amazing - but would love to hear from anyone who was there…

In the 'old days', how ever DID any of these things ever get recorded 'in-house'…? Did people smuggle a suitcase in or what?!

Slightly off topic but my father was a merchant seaman who often flew back from the States with a colleague who collected guns. The colleague would often take guns (minus ammunition!) into the cabin of planes! Often, he would chat to the pilots about his latest acquisition!

Mind you, it was the 60's...

[Serial_Apologist]

Anyone? Would love to hear about it. Have rather a piratical recording of it (Oofy Prosser in Stalls Row J, I'd say, with a dodgy bit of equipment), in moderate sound - which is nevertheless amazing - but would love to hear from anyone who was there…

In the 'old days', how DID any of these things ever get recorded 'in-house'…? Did people smuggle a suitcase in or what?!

In the case of jazz concerts my girlfriend used to smuggle a battery-operated cassette recorder in her handbag. The result was pretty muffled but one had a record, of sorts. Once, a particular pianist we knew, who hated being bootlegged, came over afterwards and said how sad it had been that nobody had been present to record the concert. My girlfriend looked sheepishly at the floor and blushed; neither of us said anything!

[Prommer]

So, today is Elektra for those who are doing the Strauss total immersion experience...

[austin]

Capable of being a riveting experience live - I heard Solti do it and it seemed like one huge, electrifying () paragraph of music, after which one had the impression of not having taken a breath.... I'm sure Bychkov could pull it off - but don't I remember he was indisposed? Hope not.

And then... there's the singers I hope they're up to it / not annoying. Don't know any of them except Dame FP.

PS ... it's all a bit off-piste for the BBC Singers! I bet they're looking forward to it!

Dame FP credited as composer here http://tinyurl.com/q5swefa

[Simon B]

I'm not yet convinced of the wisdom of these two, shall we say, full-blooded sonic assaults in 2 days but we shall see...

I was (not by choice - too close for my liking) sat in the front row of the stalls about 10 feet from Nina Stemme for most of Salome and I think my hair may still be horizontally blasted towards the back of my head as though I've been stood in a wind tunnel overnight. Deeply impressive, though I'm not sure how front-row-arena-ites cope with that proximity on a regular basis. I'm a whole 4 seats further away this evening so maybe it'll be just a little less immediate. Though when Christine Goerke sang Elektra at Covent Garden I actually found that she wasn't as audible as I was expecting from the early reviews. Maybe up-close is a good thing with that mighty orchestral din going on behind!

Quite a weekend either way.

[Stanley Stewart]

A fascinating afternoon viewing a DVD (from off-air video) of PROM 15. 29 July 2003: Elektra (sung in German with the advantage of English subtitles); BBC Scottish SO/Donald Runnicles delivering a high definition performance, along with principals Gabriele Schnaut (Elektra), Felicity Palmer, (a stylish Clytemnestra and Janice Watson (Chrysothemis) - perhaps too preoccupied with head in score, John Treleaven (Aegisthus) and Alan Held (Orestes).

The PROMS brochure allocated a generous 18 pages with contributions by Neil MacGregor and Roderic Dunnett on the theme of Greek mythology. I now feel well briefed and eager for 'the white heat of horror' tonight!

[Flosshilde]

I hope Caliban isn't listening - quite a bit of wobble (not that it bothers me too much)

[DracoM]

Staggering!!
Felicity Palmer amazing as Flighty Clytie
Bychkov drove that very hard and the band stayed with him.

Terrific evening.