Richard Strauss: "Elektra"
Elektra..................... Erna Schlüter
Chrysothemis..................... Ljuba Welitsch
Clytemnestra..................... Elisabeth Höngen
Aegisth..................... Walter Widdop
Orest..................... Paul Schöffler
Ein alter Diener..................... Eric Goldie
Ein junger Diener..................... George Chitty
Die Schleppträgerin..................... Gwladys Garside
Die Vertraute..................... Mildred Watson
Der Pfleger des Orest..................... Ernst Erbach
Die Aufseherin..................... Ruth Packer
5 Magd... Maud Heaton, Gwladys Garside, Monica Warner, Sylvia Patriss, Marion Davies
BBC Chorus & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham 16/44 FLAC MediaFire Download
Recorded/Broadcast: 24/26 October 1947. From Myto CD 98.H004 (Internet Archive: downloaded for My interest!).
Bass Cut - 12dB/8ve @ 25Hz - Treble cut above 8kHz (Mucho Bass/Upper Treble hash + FM Tuner 19kHz signal). <1.2 dB treble boost @ 6kHz.
Likely the 31st December 1978 BBC Radio 3 TX (which I listened-to: the crash of instruments at the end deleted by Myto). Sounds OK - bought the 1979 RCA (RL42821) which has indifferent transfers of Ariadne/Elektra (ex-EMI). RCA RL42821 cover + Radio Times 1947 programme>>>
Thanks very much, this an exciting performance.
ReplyDeleteBBC's 'genome' is currently non-functional so couldn't check the year I'd heard this - sounded exciting indeed then.
DeletePerhaps there's a better source (though likely limited as this derives from Discs) - but had always wanted to hear again.
Obtained from 'koncordia' - read that IA was mass-culling - but only downloaded around 6 of interest:- would highly recommend "Heinz Rehfuss - The Decca Recitals".
Thanks for letting us hear the complete performances, as opposed to the second half which RCA released. Getting hear Welitsch's complete performance is a treat.
ReplyDeleteThe IA 'koncordia' site has over 6000 audio/video Operatic. Did download the (SOMM) 1947 Beecham/Troyens - terrible 'trebly' quality.
DeleteThe RCA LP was really poor (added 'Ariadne' prelude to the WRC 'Gentilhomme' etc) - funnily, the Elektra suddenly 'came alive' towards the end..
The treble lift I applied was quite subtle - but better-matched the lower frequencies.
Many thanks for making this sound better. I had this record once, but the transfers did not do it justice.
ReplyDeleteBBC Genome just worked - broadcast 31 December 1978. I don't like 'tinkering' with the sound but if you compare with the 'konkordia' IA site - this should be just a trifle more 'illuminating'!
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