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52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Friedrich shows how filmed opera is also an art, November 10, 2005
As an opera enthusiast, I tend to agree with those that argue that this is an art form that should be experienced live whenever possible. I am nonetheless grateful to those directors and producers who have committed great performances to video. Gotz Friedrich (and some other directors like him) are in an entirely different category, however. Friedrich has taken the multivarious art form that is opera/music drama - in this case, Strauss's masterwork Elektra - and introduced it to the film medium. And, in this case, he has done it to perfection.
Elektra is not an easy opera to get right. It is a modern, expressionistic interpretation of Sophocles and, as such, demands not only great singers, but great actors. Freidrich had both in Leonie Rysanek, whose Elektra will knock your socks off. Watching her, one is amazed with what facility she communicates the detailed psychological patchwork of that tragic heroine, and manages the sudden shifts in mood and motivation. She is not merely an outraged spirt, caught up in single-minded pursuit of vengeance over the murder of her Father, but a woman who is all too aware of what she has sacrificed in the process. One sees this in every scene, but to get the full effect, watch Rysanek's Elektra as she awaits Orestes's dispatch of their Mother. In her face and voice, there is simultaneous determination and pain.
Rysanek is well matched by an equally great Klytamnestra in Astrid Varnay (herself once a celebrated Elektra), who holds all the power as the opera begins, but is apparently vulnerable, chiefly because of unrelenting torment and fear of her son Orestes. Varnay gives us a debilitated, but highly dangerous, Klytamnestra, ready to strike out in any direction to end her nightmares. The rest of the cast is uniformly excellent. Indeed, it is not possible here to name all of their virtues. I was particularly impressed by Hans Beirer as Aegisth, the effete decadent, who is so obviously the partner in Klytemnestra's crimes. The scene where he questions and spars with Elektra, unaware that she is leading him to his death, is spine-tingling.
Wonderful as all of these performances are, the real star here is Friedrich - and one should add quickly - Karl Bohm, the legendary conductor of Strauss operas. Together, in every frame of this terrific film, they honour the genius of Strauss the composer and of Hoffmannsthall the librettist/playwright. As he did also with Strauss's Salome, Friedrich shows how opera can be successfully treated in a cinematic medium (and there are plenty of examples out there of how this is done badly). In so doing, he and his performers have created a film that is guaranteed to move and inspire. Don't dare miss it.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, December 9, 2005
It is rumored that Birgit Nilsson was very disappointed when Karl Bohm chose Leonie Rysanek and not Nilsson to play Elektra in this film. Although I love love love Nilsson I have to agree that Bohm made the right choice because Rysanek is absolutely incredible as Elektra. God knows she was no spring chicken when she made this film (56 to be exact) and yet she literally tears the place apart with her incredible interpretation of Richard Strauss' demented Elektra. The voice is so solid, so dramatic and so damn perfect I can't imagine anyone singing it any better. The voice never wobbles and Rysanek holds onto the climactic high notes so effortlessly and for so long, that I am sure if Richard Strauss were alive he probably would have slapped Rysanek across the face and said "SHUT UP!!! IT'S TOO GOOD!!! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!". Not to be outdone Astrid Varnay is so amazing as Clytemnestra that she almost manages to steal the show away from Rysanek, which is no small accomplishment considering she is, by my accounts, 64 years old. The film too in absolutely perfect. Probably the best film of an opera I have ever seen. It all works so well, IT'S PERFECT DAMMIT! I can't recommend this film enough but I imagine you already guessed that.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Elektra!, April 11, 2006
After reading a ton of reviews, I decided to buy this dvd presentation of my favorite opera. The sound is much more immediate than the Levine/Nilsson recording (thankfully).\ The orchestra plays this score so well. I enjoyed it as much as Abbado/Marton. Rysaneks singing is better than Marton.
The singers vary from ok (Varnay-a noticeable wobble) to near great (Rysanek-what an amazing high register). At times, she goes high on some of the pitches. The staging and acting were excellent, even knowing it was lip synced.
The only irritating thing was the number of screen shots of the actor that played Agamemnon.
In all, this is well worth the money. In high quality stereo sound and performance.
The extra dvd was quite interesting too.
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