3 immortal pieces from the opera ELEKTRA by Strauss- with the best interpretations from YouTube (Hits, Best of)

Few operas can evoke such storms of applause at the end of a performance as Elektra. The music of Elektra and its leading role is unique in opera literature and Strauss, the great tone painter, was able to push the limits of his time with this music.

The impressive Böhm / Friedrich film version

Strauss wrote glistening music for this long monologue of Elektra, one of the opera’s high points. Relentlessly, the orchestra lashes out at Elektra as the shameful act of murder unfolds before her eyes. Only briefly does the music lighten as she imagines, as if in a trance, that her father is reappearing. Accompanied by delicate string notes, she remembers her father. In the last part, the music becomes martial and triumphant during her thoughts of revenge.
We hear a recording from the magnificent film version of this opera by the director Götz Friedrich and the conductor Karl Böhm from 1981. Böhm (born in 1894) was a longtime personal friend of the composer, and it was his heart’s desire that he might be granted the opportunity to complete this production. Shortly before the end of the work, he died at the age of 87. It was enough to produce the film, which eventually became a magnificent painting of this opera.
We hear in this excerpt Leonie Rysanek, a native of Vienna and one of the great postwar character actresses of Strauss and Wagner.

Alein, weh, ganz allein – Rysanek

Elektra recognizes her brother – the poignant recognition scene

A poignant scene plays out. When Orest reveals himself, Electra is only able to stammer her brother’s name. After this incredulous amazement, a tender melody resounds, proclaiming of Elektra’s brotherly love. Love and triumph unite to the warmth of music not heard before.

Orest! – Rysanek

The wild revenge dance of Elektra

The famous surreal dance scene with the ecstatic music begins in the recording at 8:30, in which a major melody struggles against a repeated minor triad, creating a haunting final effect in the opera.
Ob ich nicht höre (Finale) – Rysanek / Varnay