Elektra at Covent Garden Nov 11, 2008
A dozen dead bodies strewn across the stage, the city in flames, the heroine fatally gashed by a mask of her murdered father, her mother slain, her brother on a killing spree, her deranged sister in her bridal gown trying to make love to a corpse - you certainly get your money's worth of blood, vengeance, perversion and festering hatred in the 100-minute fortissimo that is Elektra, Richard Strauss's slice of life in the histrionic House of Atreus ... Indeed, the implication here - in the... (Times Online)
Off to an opening in earnest Oct 13, 2008
October 13, 2008 10:48am AEDT. After a weekend of depression, lust, abuse, rage and anguish, will arts lovers dive in for a second week. (The Australian)
Front Row: Pop Recordings Sep 7, 2008
Tracy Chapman, "Our Bright Future" (Elektra). It's been 20 years since Chapman arrived in her "Fast Car." She keeps her folk-rock motor running on this, her eighth studio album. (Boston Globe)
The 'Watchmen' war: Fanboys furious with Fox Aug 21, 2008
The most common fan-boy reaction was to compare it to garbage like ELEKTRA and CATWOMAN.. And if you watched that trailer, you'd know why (seriously, attention hollywood: having you hero walk in slow-motion away from a giant explosion is tantamount to writing the words "pathetic recycled unimaginative pandering cheese" over the title of your film). (Entertainment Weekly)
For better or worse, opera supertitles endure Jul 8, 2008
In January 1983, for a production of Strauss's "Elektra" at the Canadian Opera Company, Mansouri introduced a simultaneous English translation of the libretto on a horizontal video screen above the proscenium, a system popularly known as supertitles. (Mansouri used the term Surtitles, a registered trademark of the Canadian Opera Company. (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
It's Brecht-bashing season once again. Will this sorry bunch of carping critics never learn? May 26, 2008
In 1933, Goebbels appointed the composer Richard Strauss - whose dreamily decadent operas Salome, Elektra and Der Rosenkavalier remain central to any contemporary opera house's repertoire - president of the Reichsmusikkammer, the state music bureau. In 1936, Strauss composed the Olympic Hymn for the infamous summer games and befriended some high-ranking Nazis. (Guardian Unlimited -- Arts)
* New conductor ready for Taipei Apr 6, 2008
It so happens its also the 100th anniversary of Richard Strausss opera Elektra ... Giuseppe Sinopoli and the Staatskapelle Dresden brought Elektra to Taiwan some 20 years ago, but only in an incomplete version, Fischer-Dieskau added. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Ah Vienna, may the farce be with you Mar 6, 2008
Cox points out that he has never directed Strauss's earlier operas, the theatrically potent Salome (1905) or Elektra (1909), and shows little interest in doing so. Yet his productions of Ariadne auf Naxos (1912) and the composer's last opera Capriccio (1942) have revealed a keen investigation of the composer's mid-career and mature works, which he surmises are more profound than may first meet the eye. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
'Man of La Mancha' to arrive March 1 Feb 28, 2008
" Some of Horan's many theater credits include several musicals, most memorably, the role of the Phantom in a U.K. tour of "Phantom of the Opera," Richmond in "Richard III" with Rene Auberjonois and Orestes in "Elektra" at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre. In addition, he has been seen on national commercials and his voice has been heard on radio and television commercials as well as animated series and CD-ROM games. The rest of the stellar cast includes George M. Chavez (Sancho), who was recently... (Los Angeles Daily News)
Opera Preview: Will ‘Gems’ sparkle for AZ Opera? Jan 28, 2008
Seiji Ozawa called him to Japan for a role in the Tokyo Opera s production of Elektra. Tickets for Gems are available as part of a mini-series from the Arizona Opera at (520) 293-4336. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
Maazel to End NY Phil Tenure With Mahler Jan 12, 2008
Other highlights: Stanley Drucker marking his 60 years with the Philharmonic by performing Copland's Clarinet Concerto; a concert performance of Richard Strauss' opera "Elektra," all six Brandenberg Concertos by Bach; and "War Requiem.". "The moral in Britten's 'War Requiem' I think must be put forth again and again," Maazel said. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
50th annual Grammy Awards nominations (part II) Dec 7, 2007
Funky Soul And Rare Grooves (1967-1977)" - Masaki Koike, art director (Various Artists) [Rhino]ALBUM NOTES"Actionable Offenses: Indecent Phonograph Recordings from The 1890s" - Patrick Feaster Giovannoni, album notes writers (Various Artists) [Archeophone Records]"Classic Chu Berry Columbia And Victor Sessions" - Loren Schoenberg, album notes writer (Chu Berry) [Mosaic Records]"John Work, III: Recording Black Culture" - Bruce Nemerov, album notes writer (Various Artists) [Spring Fed Records]"Off... (Variety)
Arts - Music Dec 2, 2007
Chez Nous: Christmas with Elektra (December 1, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Ryerson United Church) Joined by A Touch of Brass quintet, the Elektra Women's Choir performs contemporary and traditional Christmas-themed music alongside holiday readings and treats for the kids. Christmas with the Bach Choir (December 9, 2 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre) The Bach Children's Chorus and Youth Choir join the adult choir for a 400-voice marathon of traditional Christmas songs. (Georgia Straight)
Pick out a box set for every musical taste Nov 23, 2007
Love, The Blue Thumb Recordings Hip-O Select, 3 CDs, $40Foundation: After their more celebrated Elektra years, the L.A. rock band recorded three albums' worth of material at the turn of the '70s for local label Blue Thumb, which is contained on the first two discs in all its fascinating diversity ... Forever Changing: The Golden Age of Elektra Records 1963-1973Rhino/Elektra, 5 CDs, $70 Foundation: The first four discs chronologically trace the label from its folk roots with Phil Ochs and Judy... (USA Today -- Life)
The week's best films Oct 6, 2007
Elektra (Rob Bowman, 2005) 9pm, C4. After her fatal appearance in Ben Affleck's Daredevil, martial arts heroine Elektra (Jennifer Garner) is resurrected to star in her own feature ... But she brings little of the Marvel magic with her: the ho-hum story has the uncharismatic Elektra working as a hired assassin for The Hand and having her conscience tweaked when ordered to kill a father and daughter. (Guardian Unlimited -- Film)
What happened to ... Alfie Boe Sep 23, 2007
In addition to more conventional operatic performances next year in Elektra at the Royal Opera House and in The Merry Widow for the ENO, the half-Irish and half-Norwegian tenor has agreed to appear at the Pigalle Club in Piccadilly on 2 October. It is the first classical booking for the venue. (Guardian Unlimited -- UK)
Richard Strauss Opera Elektra Sep 21, 2007
Richard Strauss Opera Elektra: Strauss's Music Drama of Vengeance in One Act ... Richard Strauss Opera Elektra ... Richard Strauss Opera Elektra. (Suite101.com)
Richard Strauss Sep 20, 2007
Late 19th-Century's Greatest Romantic German Composer. He is famous for opera Der Rosenkavalier. (Suite101.com)
Fans vote for TV segments Sep 13, 2007
Other candidates include segments from Verdi's Otello with Placido Domingo and Jon Vickers in the title role; Birgit Nilsson in Strauss' Elektra; the third-act trio from Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier with Tatiana Troyanos, Kiri Te Kanawa and Judith Blegan; Leontyne Price singing O patria mia from Verdi's Aida in her 1985 Met farewell; and Fleming and Bryn Terfel in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. Search the News Search. (Globe and Mail -- Technology)
Opera events around the world 2007 Sep 1, 2007
Wagner is the focus of the season with "Tristan und Isolde" (a Glyndebourne production) and "Tannh?user." The new production of "The Flying Dutchman" will be conducted by Valery Gergiev who will also lead Strauss's "Elektra" and Janacek's "Jenufa" with the Mariinsky Theater choir and orchestra. Cecilia Bartoli will sing Amina, the sleepwalker, in a concert version of Bellini's "La Somnanbula" and Claudio Abbado will return to this spa town to lead "Fidelio." Sept. 23: Tristan und Isolde -- www. (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
`Emperor Jones' Draws Ovation at Thriving National in London: Matt Wolf Aug 30, 2007
The play asks as much of its lead actor as the aggrieved, tormented souls (Elektra, Peter Grimes) who populate the operas of Richard Strauss and Benjamin Britten. For all that Brutus Jones, the ``emperor'' of the title, shares the stage with veritable hordes, the play tells of one man's hallucinatory freefall into a pit of despair. (Bloomberg -- UK)
Lush Romanticism triumphs in two Bard operas Aug 4, 2007
The composer's long, soaring, highly lyrical, tension-filled melodies bring to mind the early Richard Strauss of Salome and Elektra, and, of course, Mahler. The Dwarf is set in the Spanish court during the party for Donna Clara, the 18-year-old infanta (she's only 12 in the Wilde story). (Hillsdale Independent, NY)
ComicCon: Stargate Panels Jul 29, 2007
He [Russell T. Davies] also knew he wanted Eve [garbled] who is one of the most talented tv actors I've EVER worked with," Stokes gushed like a firehose, she s absolutely extraordinary [garbled] In every thing she does...she s absolutely extraordinary. And Russell knew and so wrote the part for her. Thankfully, the fans took the mic and asked the hard questions. One wondered if British television series would ever launch simultaneously in the U.S. Another solicited comment on whether or not... (Multichannel News)
'People thought we were mad' Jul 12, 2007
Since leaving the Almeida, he's done opera all over the world from Santa Fe to St Petersburg, where he's just directed a Gergiev-conducted Elektra. He staged Man of la Mancha and Brian Friel's Faith Healer on Broadway. (Guardian Unlimited)
Hip-Hop on the horizon: Del swoops in Jul 5, 2007
" Del, aka Teren Delvon Jones, was born Aug. 12, 1972, in Oakland. He's Ice Cube's cousin, and by 1990 he was writing for Cube's crew, Da Lench Mob. Del released his solo debut, "I wish My Brother George Was Here," the next year on Elektra. It included the hit, "Mistadobalina," but he wasn't satisfied with the overall sound. Del went out on his own, away from Cube's umbrella, and released "No Need For Alarm" in 1993. This time he was darker, experimenting more with vocal processing and on board... (Juneau Empire)
How the Nazis took flight from Valkyries Jul 3, 2007
On the so-called Day of Potsdam, the propaganda show staged on March 21 1933 by Goebbels, officially to inaugurate the new Reichstag, the day ended with a performance of Die Meistersinger (at Hitler's insistence; originally a performance of Strauss's Elektra had been planned). The Ride of the Valkyries was broadcast to accompany reports on German air attacks. (Guardian Unlimited -- UK)
2007 Dora Award Winners Jun 28, 2007
The Four Horsemen Project and Elektra The Big Winners ... Derek McLane Elektra ... Susan Bullock Elektra. (Suite101.com)
Scorched wins best play at Dora Awards Jun 26, 2007
Tarragon Theatre's production of Scorched, along with the Mirvish version of We Will Rock You and the Canadian Opera Company's Elektra, were the big winners Monday night at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, recognizing the best in Canadian theatre ... In opera, the Canadian Opera Company won both outstanding production for Elektra and outstanding performance for the show's soprano Susan Bullock. (Globe and Mail)
* Strauss in full-stage magnificence Jun 22, 2007
Richard Strauss had achieved enormous success as a wunderkind with his two previous operas, Salome (1905) and Elektra (1909), works that shocked and hypnotized audiences with, respectively, sadistic eroticism and razor-sharp dissonance ... Words might have presented a problem for such a grand undertaking, but in securing the services of Hugo von Hofmannsthal, one of Germany's leading poets (who had also provided the libretto of Elektra), mastery on all fronts was assured. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK CONCERT & EVENT LISTINGS Jun 22, 2007
ELEKTRA WOMENS CHOIR Award-winning womens classical choir co-conducted by Morna Edmundson and DIane Loomer. June 23: Bon Voyage. (Vancouver Westender)
Strauss Heirs Must Share Opera Royalties Jun 14, 2007
June 14, 2007, 8:50 AM EDT BERLIN -- A court has ordered heirs of composer Richard Strauss to share royalties with the heirs of librettist and poet Hugo von Hoffmansthal for nine collaborations, including the popular operas "Der Rosenkavalier" and "Elektra." ... "Der Rosenkavalier" and "Elektra" are still frequently performed by the world's great opera companies. (Newsday -- World)
2007 Dora Award Nominees Announced Jun 9, 2007
Derek McLane, Elektra ... Thomas C. Hase, Elektra ... Richard Bradshaw, Elektra. (Suite101.com)
Musicals lead race for Toronto theatre honours Jun 9, 2007
Four COC operas are vying for the outstanding opera production category, with Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Faust, Elektra and Das Rheingold to compete against Opera Atelier's Orpheus and Eurydice. Toronto Dance Theatre's Timecode Break will be the one to beat in the dance categories after garnering four nods. (CBC News)
COC's ambitious season garners $18M box office May 31, 2007
This year's three spring productions Luisa Miller, Elektra and La Traviata drew 59,000 patrons and $5. 6 million in box office revenue. (CBC.ca)
Opera Australia to debut 'Desire' May 26, 2007
Back home, he directed "Elektra" for the State Opera of South Australia in 1991. OA began courting Beresford several years ago, initially for "Sweeney Todd." The company has a long history of recruiting guest artists from parallel genres. (Variety)
The Buzz: Classical May 20, 2007
Last year they showed off the results with Strauss's "Elektra." This summer it will be a concert performance of Verdi's "Don Carlo" (in its four-act version) with a high-caliber cast including Patricia Racette, Luciana D'Intino, Johan Botha, James Morris , and Zeljko Lucic. July 28 at 7:30 p.m., Koussevitzky Music Shed, Tanglewood. (Boston Globe)
Mexico's Slim, Second-Richest Man, Turns From Telecom to Dump for Profit May 17, 2007
Grupo Elektra SA, the country's largest consumer electronics retailer, sells 2,000 flat screen televisions a year at its store in the area, making it the third-best selling outlet in the metro area, said regional manager Oscar Arias Montiel. Move Up. (Bloomberg)
Don't bother rushing for rush seats May 3, 2007
There were only two left for a performance of Elektra last Friday ... You could still snag one for Elektra or Luisa Miller, according to a seat-availability chart on the COC's website, though if there's a late surge of interest from Opera for a New Age members, your trip to the box office may still be in vain. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Elektra packs a jolt Apr 24, 2007
Such is the case with the Canadian Opera Company's revival production of the 1909 Richard Strauss opera Elektra, which opened at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday night ... Elektra's three main women were magnificent ... As Elektra, she touched the depths of our souls with her plaintive pleas. (Toronto Star)
From Mattila: rare Finns, sketches of Spain Apr 14, 2007
I would never have guessed that an artist like Mattila, known for her searing performances in operas like "Elektra" and "Salome," could ham it up like she did in Gershwin's "The Man I Love," but there it was, persuasive and a lot of fun. Pianist Martin Katz played with insight and character throughout the night, ably supporting Mattila and at one point even translating some Swedish. (Boston Globe)
New productions shake up old ideas about what to stage and how Mar 26, 2007
I had a wonderful time - and will go back to Strauss masterpieces like Elektra with new ears. More such experiences appear to be on the way. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
'The Egyptian Helen' Returns to the Met Mar 17, 2007
Voigt filled the house with her lustrous silvery soprano, adding to her string of Strauss successes following the title roles in "Ariadne auf Naxos" and "Salome," Die Kaiserin in "Die Frau ohne Schatten" and Chrysothemis in "Elektra.". In 2002, she sang the "Die Aegyptische Helena" title role to great acclaim in a concert with the American Symphony Orchestra that was released on CD, but this was her debut in a staged performance. (Shoals TimesDaily)
Ariadne transforms maestro Mar 4, 2007
When asked which he wanted to see, he didn't name Salome or Elektra or Der Rosenkavalier, the masterworks that made his name and fortune in the early years of the century. Rather, he settled on Ariadne (in its original 1912 edition, in fact) as the centrepiece of the celebration. (Georgia Straight)
How comics translate into good, sometimes great, films Feb 21, 2007
Some are "smaller" than others, like Daredevil, Elektra and Catwoman. These are concepts that can make good human-interest movies, but the weaknesses in their initial concept grow more pronounced the more larger-than-life you try to make them. (Scripps Howard News Wire)
Opera puts Paris to sleep Feb 17, 2007
Hilton's host, a construction magnate, invites a celebrity to the Ball every year, with his previous guests including Pamela Anderson, Carmen Elektra and Geri Halliwell. - iafrica's 100 percent free weekly entertainment newsletter, featuring sizzling news, the latest reviews, juicy gossip, cool competitions and more. (iAfrica.com)
Locals in music news; building the network (2/1) Feb 3, 2007
The 80's thrash metal band were former Elektra label mates and tour buddies with Metallica. Now reincarnated and supporting a new 2006 album, ight in the Dark, they appear tonight with Killjay, Cemetery Surfers and Addiction Device in an all-ages show beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is 10. (Columbus Commercial Dispatch, MS)
Stellar cast lifts Catch and Release out of clich Jan 26, 2007
Jennifer Garner is primarily a television star, thanks to five seasons of Alias, but shes been making multiplex in-roads with Elektra and 13 Going on 30, and now Catch and Release, a romantic comedy that dares to be melancholy. Its the most complex big-screen role shes had to date, even if the movie has as many downs as ups. (MSNBC -- Movies)
Standards and a premiere but no 'Ring' Jan 11, 2007
The season also offers Verdi's Rigoletto, starring the in-demand baritone Carlos Alvarez, and Strauss' Elektra, with Susan Bullock in the title role. Giovanni Reggioli will conduct the former, Fricke the latter. (SunSpot.net)
Domingo: Opera for all (T.L. Ponick) Jan 11, 2007
Other operas on tap next season will include a new John Pascoe production of Mozart's timeless "Don Giovanni," conducted by maestro Domingo; a revival of the company's production of Richard Strauss' "Elektra," featuring soprano Susan Bullock; and Verdi's timeless "Rigoletto," starring acclaimed baritone Carlos Alvarez as the tragic court jester. In another surprise, the company also will present its first performances of the rarely heard Handel gem "Tamerlano" ("Tamburlaine"), based loosely on... (Washington Times)
