STRAUSS: ELEKTRA (Todestanze) - Death Dance

The plot of Elektra is based upon the great Greek tragedy of the same name by the tragedian Sophocles. The unrelenting gloom and horror that permeate the original play produce, in the hands of Hofmannsthal and Strauss, a drama whose sole theme is revenge. Clytemnestra, helped by her paramour Aegistheus, has secured the murder of her husband, Agamemnon, and now is afraid that her guilt will be discovered by her children, Elektra, Chrysothemis, and their banished brother Orestes. Elektra, who is the personification of the passionate lust for vengeance, tries to persuade her timid sister to kill Clytemnestra and Aegistheus. Before the plan is carried out, Orestes, who had been reported as dead, arrives and, upon being told the truth by Elektra, determines upon revenge for his father's death. He kills Clytemnestra and Aegistheus; Elektra, in an ecstatic dance of triumph, falls dead in front of her horror-stricken attendants.

W=Elektra
Zane=Chrysothemis

Ob ich nicht höre?
ob ich die Musik nicht höre?
sie kommt doch aus mir.
Die Tausende, die Fackeln
tragen und deren Tritte,
deren uferlose
Myriaden Tritte überall
die Erde dumpf dröhnen machen,
alle warten auf mich:
ich weiss doch, dass sie alle warten,
weil ich den Reigen führen muss,
ich kann nicht, der Ozean, der ungeheure,der zwanzigfache Ozean begräbt mir jedes Glied mit seiner Wucht, ich kann mich nicht heben!

Schweig, und tanze.
Alle müssen herbei!
hier schliesst euch an!
Ich trage die Last
des Glükkes, und ich tanze vor euch her.
Wer glücklich ist wie wir,
dem ziemt nur eins:
schweigen und tanzen!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• elektra
• tanz
• richard
• strauss
• gwenyth
• jones
• orange

[asisecanta]

WOW!!! Tremendously well-sung and acted with such passion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is Elektra the heaviest role in your repertorie??

[wenarto]

isolde :-)

[emilicb]

My God! You're the best. I would like to be a great performer as you!

[wenarto]

muchas Gracias!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went crazy...LOL

[Jarppase]

I didn't know Kim Jong-il is also performing opera. ;D

[gratecourt]

Far better than anything you'd see at English National Opera, and beats the pants off the G Friedrich "film". Though I've heard Roy Orbison in slightly better voice.

[MrEarwicker]

You sir, are terrific. I salute you!

[supermarito79]

LMFAO absolutely BRILLITANT!!!!

[dermann1]

she is crazy

[ZeevRoizman]

I'm sorry, but your post scared me up. Is 'this schizophrenia' really WONDERFUL in your eyes?

Do not waste your life on mentally sick people like this case

They are totally morons and will poison your mind during, even, simple

conversation that you are thirst to get

[Nilakanta55]

You are absolutely WONDERFULL and your Tean is too !!!

I'l like to get in touch with all of you ! Where are you ? In USA or in EUROPE ?!?

I love you so much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You KNOW wath ELEKTRA is and means !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[1379852456]

crazy modern sets :-D

[johnkelmer]

ok the 'death dance': I'm a butterfly, no a deer, no maybe superman, oh no Elektra is martial arts' wrestler, OMG I'm falling, Is it raining?, Die Callas, PE class, - and then he starts SCREAMING again (well at least he's not trying to sing like a woman) and then points he's finger like a rapper, Mr. 'I'm-a- blow-up-Joe-like-in-the-petrol­-stations' and then convultionating all the way to a discombobulated slow fall into the couch with the tiger-touch LOL EPIC FAIL!!!!!!

[avner75]

the libretto asks for a "hysterical" dance. This is more a "hilarious" dance. Love the final moment when hi "dies" too. It's as if he gets electrocuted ! Also take a look at the decor : the tiger blanket, the chopped wood, the palmtree, the Maria Callas poster... Makes you wonder how the guy who filmed all this could prevent himself from shaking with laughter