Afternoon at the Opera

Elektra

 
woman standing in front of mirror

Birgit Nilsson behind the stage at Gröna Lund, Stockholm, 1960s. Wikimedia Commons

Program notes courtesy of WFMT:

This archival broadcast from the Royal Swedish Opera in 1965 is the sensational Swedish premiere of Strauss’s opera and famed soprano Birgit Nilsson’s role debut as Elektra. This extremely demanding role became one of Nilsson’s foremost and most acclaimed roles for the rest of her career.

Elektra features the vocal grandeur and blazing drama of this passionate heroine. She’s the Mycenaean princess whose father was murdered leaving Elektra thirsty for bloody revenge.