Washington National Opera
Elektra
Opera House
Tragedy follows Elektra as she plots revenge against her father’s murderer—her own mother—in Richard Strauss’s epic opera inspired by the Greek tale.
Oct. 29 - Nov. 12, 2022
Genre
Opera
Runtime
Approximately 100 minutes with no intermission
Presenting Sponsor
View Digital Program
Soprano Christine Goerke (left) is Elektra; soprano Sara Jakubiak is Chrysothemis. Photo by Scott Suchman.
She’ll do anything for justice.
Music by Richard Strauss / Libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal
In German with Projected English Titles
Composed 1909
New WNO Production
This royal family is set up for royal dysfunction. Elektra has just witnessed her own mother murder her father Agamemnon, the king of ancient Mycenae. Now that she knows whose hands are bloody, Elektra is hellbent on vengeance. But when her brother returns from exile to carry out her wishes, Elektra’s obsession for revenge pushes her fractured family to the brink of destruction.
Christine Goerke’s "Allein! Weh, ganz allein!" from Elektra
Christine Goerke on playing the title role in Elektra
“A sharp-clawed and intensely focused vision of Strauss’s blood-spattered family portrait...vividly realized and sung with force and fire by Christine Goerke.”
Soprano Christine Goerke (left) is Elektra; soprano Sara Jakubiak (right) is Chrysothemis. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Tenor Štefan Margita (left) is Aegisth; soprano Christine Goerke (right) is Elektra. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Mezzo-soprano Katarina Dalayman (center) is Klytämnestra. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green is Orest. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Chrysothemis
Klytämnestra
Aegisth
Conductor
Director
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Projection Designer
Choreographer
Come early for a free Pre-Performance Talk
Delve deeper as you take a peek inside the composer’s mind, behind the scenes of planning a production, and into the history and social context of each opera. These lectures are free, but patrons must present a ticket from any performance of the production that is being discussed in the lecture.
Elektra lecturers:
Ken Weiss (Oct. 29 eve, Oct. 31 eve & Nov. 4 eve)
Francesca Zambello (Nov. 6 mat)
David Toro (Nov. 9 eve & Nov. 12 eve)
Most Pre-Performance Talks begin 1 hour before the performance and last 25–30 minutes.
Stay after for a Post-Performance Artist Q&A
Don’t miss your opportunity to engage directly with our artists and share your thoughts on the experience you just had! Here’s your chance to ask questions and get the inside scoop on the production from members of the cast and creative team. All discussions begin immediately after the performance and are free with your ticket.
Oct. 31 eve & Nov. 6 mat only
Moderated by Francesca Zambello
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All events and artists subject to change without prior notice.
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