Color: Colour

Credits:

Various Artists

Description:

The Salzburg Festival celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020 with "Elektra," performed under difficult circumstances by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Welser-Möst, featuring enthusiastic performances by the Lithuanians Stundite and Grigorian. The Salzburg Festival, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020, was threatened by a worldwide pandemic, but was rescheduled with a shortened program. The piece chosen for this memorable year was "Elektra," the first work by the festival's founding duo of Richard Strauss and Hofmannsthal. Seeking a greater impact than their previous work, "Salome," Richard Strauss used the largest orchestra in the history of opera to create an overwhelmingly powerful work. The role of Elektra is played by the world-famous Lithuanian soprano Ausrine Stundite. Her singing with a strong presence, befitting the title role in the opera that opens the festival, is a masterpiece. Her younger sister Christemis is played by Asmik Grigorian, also from Lithuania, whose performance of "Salome" at the 2018 festival was a big hit worldwide. He is once again showing his talent in this production. The director, Christophe Walikowski, realistically portrays the deep psychological state of a mother's murder, obsession, revenge, debilitation, and broken family.And the exquisite and emotional performance by Welser-Möst and the Vienna Philharmonic shows their determination to choose a large-scale program in these times and to play it as a strong message to the audience. King International