Here are two groups of extended excerpts from Strauss’ Elektra, taped early and late in 1964 at the Deutschen Oper am Rhein. Their main appeal will be the Elektra of Astrid Varnay in the February performance (with Madeira, Zadek, and Symonette) and the Klytemnestra of Martha Mödl in December (with Marijke van der Lugt as Elektra and Enriqueta Tarres as Chrysothemis). Varnay’s voice is still in splendid shape in 1964–while never pretty, it soon developed a disfiguring wobble. Here she’s a force of nature, the vibrato a bit loose but thoroughly expressive, the high notes staggering in their size and quality, her ability to probe the character’s sick psyche shocking in its depth. The other three singers have little to do, but they do it well. Earlier Varnay Elektras might be more pleasing, but none is more inquisitive: Elektra probably was her finest role despite her spectacular Brünnhildes.
The second performance introduces the otherwise unknown Marijke van der Lugt, an exciting Elektra with a top note or two that, while solid, seem like they belong to another person. Still, she’s worth hearing. Mödl is stunning despite being off-mike somewhat, her snarling almost visual. Tarres is a big nothing as sister Chrys. The orchestra occasionally drowns out the singers and Arnold Quennet’s leadership is pretty brutal but very effective. Okay sound.
