Metropolitan Opera Archives

With two outstanding changes of cast to give it fresh interest, the Strauss "Elektra" was presented at a special performance on the afternoon of Feb. 3 for the benefit of the Vassar Club Scholarship Fund, in double bill with "Pagliacci." G?ta Ljungberg, who earlier in the season had appeared as Chrysothemis, succeeded Gertrude Kappel in the titular role. Maria Olszewska added Klytemnestra to her new disclosures at the Metropolitan, her predecessors in this part having been Karin Branzell and Faina Petrova. Dorothee Manski sang Chrysothemis. Friedrich Schorr was again Orestes; Rudolf Laubenthal, Aegisthes; and Siegfried Tappolet, the Foster Father of Orestes. Artur Bodanzky conducted, as at the five previous representations.

The new Elektra and Klytemnestragave vivid and compelling impersonations. Mme. Ljungberg presented a particularly striking figure and by her expressive singing and vital acting engendered an added measure of tenseness and excitement. This was cumulative as the performance progressed and rightly reached its climax in the frenzied dance of triumph at the close. In make-up, gesture, posture, walk and quality of voice, Mme. Olszewska's portrait of the decadent queen was a memorable one.

The "Pagliacci" cast included Lucrezia Bori as Nedda, Giovanni Martinelli as Canio, Richard Bonelli as Tonio, Claudio Frigerio as Silvio and Giordano Paltrinieri as Beppe. Mr. Bellezza conducted.

Search by season: 1932-33

Search by title: Pagliacci, Elektra,

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