Endless "static close-ups"? Are you crazy? Do you have eyes? I guess you'd make the same charge of Ingmar Bergman and HIS "endless static close-ups". Ridiculous. This is one of the best filmed operas ever.
Could have been more flamboyant... Not that this isn't fantastic it could just use a little bit more.
I always thought that Elektra should be spinning around and jumping like a lunatic, and grab Chrysothemis and drag her into the dance while doing it over the dead bodies of her mother and her lover and lapping in their blood and spreading on herself and having people faint in horror. It's not too much to ask for. ;)
@JudahBenHur007 Absolutely right. Friedrich was a mediocrity as a stage director (i.e. far better than most of the imbeciles being paid to do it these days), but the idea that he could meander onto a film set and direct a motion picture is an insult to both music and cinema. A fine cast and conductor, a lot of money, and he just hasn't the beginnings of a clue. Endless static closeups. I wonder if the moron had ever even SEEN a film?
Fantastic. Strauss composed some of the most haunting operas ever (i.e., this one and Salome), operas of such existential and spiritual shock and tragedy, they are impossible to shake off if you let them get to you. This is just about as good as art gets, I think.
Ryanek's voice is the most exciting and largest that I had the privilege of hearing in-house. Hair-raising. It's a shame that this performance is marred by a screeching Krysothemis (Ligendza.) The miracle of modern recordings could have given us Rysanek singing both Elektra and her sister Krysothemis (she was famous for singing the younger sister.) Also, I had the great fortune of attending three Boehm performances: 2 Fraus & 1 Rosenkavalier. This man MADE music. Rysanek is sorely missed
I had a lovely visit with Rysanek after her last Klytemnestra in Houston.... we talked about 'the good old days in Vienna'.....I didn't think this would near her end. She was gracious and so lovely.
Rysanek said she could sing the role of Elektra . . . once. Damn, we are so lucky they caught it in this really eerie movie. Varnay, too, couldn't have been better. Our only question is what kept Rysanek -- acting and singing this difficult part, then dancing in bloody bare feet in puddles of water -- from catching pneumonia?
@symyu Didn't she also do it live sometime? Anyway, her voice is not for the role because of its demands... so live it would be a real strain. But glad she did it here! Life would be poorer if she hadn't!
Just found this. It is nothing short of amazing.
jgesselberty 2 weeks ago
Easily the creepiest and most terrifying opera ever written.
rkwittem 2 months ago
Endless "static close-ups"? Are you crazy? Do you have eyes? I guess you'd make the same charge of Ingmar Bergman and HIS "endless static close-ups". Ridiculous. This is one of the best filmed operas ever.
AndrewRudin 3 months ago 3
Comment removed
AndrewRudin 3 months ago
Stupenda interpretazione e regia ma di una drammacità terribile. Bluewind (Torrevento)
lupoverde1000 5 months ago
Hey symyu! Thanks for sharing this wonderful vid with me! :))
Now, if Dragon Ball is something like this haha... :))
EienNoDB 7 months ago
Could have been more flamboyant... Not that this isn't fantastic it could just use a little bit more.
I always thought that Elektra should be spinning around and jumping like a lunatic, and grab Chrysothemis and drag her into the dance while doing it over the dead bodies of her mother and her lover and lapping in their blood and spreading on herself and having people faint in horror. It's not too much to ask for. ;)
JudahBenHur007 8 months ago 5
@JudahBenHur007 Yeah, the singing and orchestra was great here, but the dancing just didn't fit the drama. Physically she just wasn't there.
MrEarwicker 7 months ago
@JudahBenHur007 Absolutely right. Friedrich was a mediocrity as a stage director (i.e. far better than most of the imbeciles being paid to do it these days), but the idea that he could meander onto a film set and direct a motion picture is an insult to both music and cinema. A fine cast and conductor, a lot of money, and he just hasn't the beginnings of a clue. Endless static closeups. I wonder if the moron had ever even SEEN a film?
gratecourt 4 months ago
Perfecttion! Rysanek is outstanding here in my favourite Strauss opera. Thanks for posting this wonderful finale. :-)
schmutzlibuab 8 months ago
Fantastic. Strauss composed some of the most haunting operas ever (i.e., this one and Salome), operas of such existential and spiritual shock and tragedy, they are impossible to shake off if you let them get to you. This is just about as good as art gets, I think.
darkprose 8 months ago
Ryanek's voice is the most exciting and largest that I had the privilege of hearing in-house. Hair-raising. It's a shame that this performance is marred by a screeching Krysothemis (Ligendza.) The miracle of modern recordings could have given us Rysanek singing both Elektra and her sister Krysothemis (she was famous for singing the younger sister.) Also, I had the great fortune of attending three Boehm performances: 2 Fraus & 1 Rosenkavalier. This man MADE music. Rysanek is sorely missed
nogrits4me 8 months ago
I had a lovely visit with Rysanek after her last Klytemnestra in Houston.... we talked about 'the good old days in Vienna'.....I didn't think this would near her end. She was gracious and so lovely.
rumpwrestler 1 year ago
My God ! Rysanek is wicked !
DrLux 1 year ago
Rysanek said she could sing the role of Elektra . . . once. Damn, we are so lucky they caught it in this really eerie movie. Varnay, too, couldn't have been better. Our only question is what kept Rysanek -- acting and singing this difficult part, then dancing in bloody bare feet in puddles of water -- from catching pneumonia?
unclealand 1 year ago
Leonie Rysanek is divine.
niallguinan 1 year ago
My God! Is it real? This Rysanek's performace is perfect! I love this version!!!
CristMelo 1 year ago 6
@CristMelo yes! it is for real, as real as you can crisply hear! LOL isn't she just heaven to see and hear? wish she also did it live
symyu 1 year ago
@symyu Didn't she also do it live sometime? Anyway, her voice is not for the role because of its demands... so live it would be a real strain. But glad she did it here! Life would be poorer if she hadn't!
AOG93 7 months ago