Strauss: Elektra - Nilsson, Lindholm, Ericson, Saedén, Høiseth; Klobucar. Stockholm, 1974

Description: For this production of Elektra, the Royal Swedish Opera reunited the same cast from their legendary 1965 staging (available here), capturing lightning in a bottle once more. That earlier production marked Birgit Nilsson's role debut as Elektra, and nine years later she remains a force of nature. Although some flexibility has ebbed from her voice, she still summons earth-shattering high notes with astonishing ease. Berit Lindholm, now at the height of her powers, surpasses her previous performance as Chrysothemis with thrilling vocalism and dramatic conviction. Barbro Ericson makes a chilling yet vocally sumptuous Klytämnestra, balancing menace with dark beauty. Together, this cast delivers a searing account of Strauss’s unrelenting score. In Mono OD 11993-2