Electra2.0004_StraussFriedrich

Richard Strauss (comp.) and Hugo von Hoffmansthal (libretto), Elektra: Tragödie in einem Auszug, 1903 - 1908, opus 58; Vienna Philharmonic, Karl Böhm (conductor), Götz Friedrich (director), performed and recorded 1981. Deutsche Grammophon; 2 DVDs Richard Strauss: Elektra.

— The second DVD contains a 2-hour making-of documentary, “Ob ich die Musik nicht höre? Sie kommt doch aus mir.” [You ask whether I hear the music. It comes in fact from within me.] The documentary is a useful making-of narrative about the creation of the production from casting to staging and from concept to execution. The documentary’s narrative illustrates the collaboration between Böhm, who knew Strauss personally and fondly, and Friedrich, who achieved remarkable cinematic artistry in this Elektra. A nice touch is presentation of the intermittent readings from Hoffmansthal’s dramatic text.

For libretto:
Electra2.0004_StraussLibretto