Richard Strauss, Elektra: "Ich will nichts hören!"

Astrid Varnay as Klytämnestra in the film of Götz Friedrich, 1982. The Wiener Philmarmoniker were conducted by Karl Böhm.

• Category

  Music

[Jellyboby]

i wish there was a translation for this

varney is wonderful! and so is the background music

[jaason53]

Yeah, it would be nice to have translation(s). But this is not the whole story but just a small sample of the whole tragedy. The DVD includes translations to major languages in subtitles, and moreover, a very interesting document about making of the movie. I agree with you that Varney is great as well as the Strauss' music conducted by maestro Karl Böhm at the age of 86 years.

[lorchis1]

Not all is Varnay's fault. There are some videos from a Munich production where she doesn't have so many mannerisms, so the stage director must share part of the responsibility. Anyway, I think that Klytämnestra is always performed somewhat hystrionically and this is part of the character's appeal. I don't find Varnay annoying at all.

[closerange88]

I love it! I gotta get this DVD.

[darkprose]

Yes, I don't find her annoying, either. I mean, look at the music Strauss composed for Klytämnestra! Some of his most nightmarish and disturbing, not to mention progressive, passages. I think the extreme horror of the film and the characterization is completely effective.

[masteroum]

omg das ist ja komedie vom feinsten XD thumps up :D

[john smith]

ich hasse strauss/hofmannsthal hier...

[dannymaestro]

Well, I think they are excellent as Klytaemnestra Varnay and Resnik. I don´t want to choose, they are both making an unforgettable performance...

[João Paulo Ribas]

This is the best opera on video!!!

Varnay is a goddess!

[4567pepo]

Overacting??!! Have you ever seen Brigitte Fassbaender on the 1989 Vienna DVD? Or Marjana Lipovšek from the Zurich one?

[Carmen Bizet]

Yeaaaaaah, she´s a witch, consumed by the idea of death.