ELEKTRA

By Hugo von Hofmannsthal/Richard Strauss

VIDEO: Leonie Rysanek, Astrid Varnay, Caterina Ligendza, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Karl Boehm, Vienno PO; Vienna, 1981, dir Goetz Friedrich; PGD [Polygram] 071 500

AUDIO: A) DG: Inge Borkh, Jean Madeira, Marianne Schech, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Boehm conducting; solid representation of the opera by an accomplished cast under one of the composer's favorite conductors; Stereo [G.R.]

B) LYS: Erna Schlueter, Gusta Hammer, Annelies Kupper, Robert Hager, Jochum conducting (1944); a performance very much off the beaten track, but well worth acquiring for Schlueter's Elektra caught at the peak of her all-too-brief prime and for Jochum's wonderfully conversational approach and rigorous control over the orchestra, which reminds one of Richard Strauss's Utopian(?) reiteration that his orchestra should sound Mendelssohnian(!); an unusual achievement; in fairly good Mono [G.R.]

C) DECCA/LONDON: Birgit Nilsson, Regina Resnik, Collier, Krause, Solti conducting; Stereo