Synopses & Reviews
One of the most often performed of Strauss' musical works, this landmark of modern opera scandalized early 20th-century audiences with its startling dissonance and unconventional harmonics. Today, it is admired for virtuosic invention of musical ideas and the use of instrumental sonorities to characterize both persons and actions. Reprinted directly from the authoritative Fürstner edition.
Synopsis
Composed in 1906-1908 to a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Elektra scandalized audiences of the day with its horrific retelling of the Greek story and its startling level of dissonance. Today, with the shock of the new worn off and the once-fearful dissonance now widely accepted, the score can be more easily appreciated for its extravagant invention of musical ideas and virtuosic use of instrumental sonorities to characterize both persons and actions. Further, in his use of a single germinal chord which pervades the entire score, Strauss anticipated a technique used by later 20th-century composers.
Now a landmark of modern opera, Elektra is among the best-known of Strauss's works. In this remarkably inexpensive Dover volume, it is reprinted, complete and unabridged, directly from the authoritative Furstner edition.
Synopsis
Landmark of modern opera, once shocking, today admired for fertility of musical invention. Unabridged republication of 1916 Furstner edition.
Synopsis
A landmark of modern opera, once shocking, today admired for fertility of musical invention. Superb display of characterization and dramatic power achieved through purely musical means. Unabridged republication of 1916 Fürstner edition.