Singer

Complete ecstasy, extreme states: the ancient drama surrounding Elektra opens up abysses. But the shock is of great majesty. Richard Strauss composed the corresponding music: terribly beautiful, of overwhelming sensuality.

Richard Strauss created this family tragedy with bold harmonies and late romantic gestures - from the title heroine's thirst for revenge to its terrible fulfillment. Elektra's father was killed by her mother and her lover. Now her brother Orestes returns and murders the murderers. Elektra dances and collapses in triumph. Iréne Theorin in the lead role and Violeta Urmana as Clytemnestra guarantee a gripping mother-daughter duel. Two world opera stars visiting Cologne!

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Strauss: Elektra

The Staatstheater Stuttgart

This work marks the start of the legendary collaboration between Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Elektra is a dark and wild work whose musical and dramatic power never ceases to fascinate. The score and main role are unique in the lyric repertoire and Strauss, a great tonal painter, immerses us in unprecedented musical and vocal violence. In a single act lasting just under 1 hour and 45 minutes, the musician traces and dissects the meanderings and flashes of radiance of the human psyche based on Sophocles’ tragedy reworked by Hugo Von Hofmannstahl. To avenge the sacrifice of her daughter Iphigenia, Queen Clytemnestra murders her husband, King Agamemnon. His murder invokes the revenge of their daughter Elektra. But it is not easy to kill your mother and vengeance sets in motion an unstoppable chain of events. Strauss puts the singers through their paces, especially the title role. Elektra is a true test of strength for the soprano and is reputed to be one of the most difficult roles in the operatic repertoire. With the extraordinary dramatic and vocal intensity she recently demonstrated in Munich, Iréne Theorin is one of the finest performers in this role today. Violeta Urmana’s Clytemnestra will be more than a match for Elektra’s power.

Elektra

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

In Brave New World in 1932, the loyal Freudian Aldous Huxley had one of his characters describe families as turbo-incubators of human neuroses, in whose warm, humid climate one could only go crazy. In the case of the Atride family, whose psychosocial abnormalities were addressed by Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal in 1909, one generation hands the ax to the next: Clytemnestra avenges the sacrifice of her daughter Iphigenia on her husband Agamemnon, Elektra uses her brother Orestes to murder her the mother and her lover Aegisthus, only sister Chrysothemis longs for home and hearth. Peter Konwitschny lets the children watch the patricide in the bathtub. But the retribution will be anything but liberation.

Electra

Experience the grandeur of Arnold Schoenberg's "Gurrelieder" under the baton of Zubin Mehta, a maestro with a profound connection to this epic masterpiece. This special performance is part of the "Schoenberg at 150 Festival," celebrating the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth. Join us at the Walt Disney Concert Hall for two exclusive performances on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 8:00 PM, and Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2:00 PM.

"Gurrelieder" is Schoenberg's monumental cantata that stands as a testament to the late Romantic era, evoking the lush, emotional landscapes reminiscent of Wagner and Mahler. Its massive scale requires an extraordinary ensemble of five soloists, multiple choirs, a narrator, and a gargantuan orchestra, making it a rare and cherished piece in the classical music repertoire. Zubin Mehta, LA Phil Conductor Emeritus, brings his unparalleled expertise to this work, having conducted its LA Phil premiere and recorded it multiple times. This performance marks a poignant return to one of Mehta's signature pieces, offering audiences a unique opportunity to witness his masterful interpretation of the operatic emotion and architectural grandeur of "Gurrelieder."

The Los Angeles Philharmonic, along with a stellar lineup of soloists including Christine Goerke (soprano Tove), Brandon Jovanovich (tenor Waldemar), Violeta Urmana (mezzo Waldtaube), Gerhard Siegel (tenor Klaus-Narr), and Dietrich Henschel (speaker), will bring this masterpiece to life. The Los Angeles Master Chorale, led by Artistic Director Grant Gershon and Associate Artistic Director Jenny Wong, will add to the splendor of this performance.

Enhance your experience by arriving early at 6:30 PM to enjoy "Drinks in the Garden." Revel in the lush ambiance of Walt Disney Concert Hall's rooftop garden with a complimentary drink, setting the perfect tone for an unforgettable evening of music.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience the epic and poetic "Gurrelieder" conducted by Zubin Mehta, a true highlight of the "Schoenberg at 150 Festival." Reserve your tickets now for a musical journey that promises to be both monumental and deeply moving.

Zubin Mehta Conducts Gurrelieder

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Tchaikovsky’s macabre thriller, set against the backdrop of Tsarist Russia, is back in the Met’s atmospheric staging. Soprano Sonya Yoncheva makes her highly anticipated role debut as Lisa, the young woman who embarks on a deadly love affair with the gambling-obsessed officer Hermann, sung by tenor Brian Jagde, also in his role debut. Baritone Igor Golovatenko reprises his moving portrayal of Lisa’s fiancé, Prince Yeletsky, alongside mezzo-soprano Violeta Urmana as the spectral Countess and baritone Alexey Markov as Count Tomsky. Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts the sweeping score.



Violeta Urmana

Mezzo-soprano

Events

Upcoming events

13 - 15 Dec, 2024

Zubin Mehta Conducts Gurrelieder · Los Angeles Philharmonic

May 23 - Jun 7, 2025

The Queen of Spades · The Metropolitan Opera

Past events

May 21, 2024

Strauss: Elektra · Kölner Philharmonie

Apr 29, 2024

Elektra · Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

Future and recently performed repertoire

Countess in The Queen of Spades Introduction by Tchaikovsky

The Metropolitan Opera

Clytemnestra in Elektra by Strauss

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

Singer in Gurrelieder by Schoenberg

Los Angeles Philharmonic

About

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