Elektra

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Elektra

opera by Strauss

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June 26, 2026

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Richard Strauss's opera Elektra is based on the Greek legend of Electra, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. The opera, with a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, premiered in 1909. It is known for its intense portrayal of Electra's obsession with revenge for her father's murder. Strauss's music in Elektra is characterized by its dramatic power and explores psychological depth, pushing towards atonality. The opera is considered a significant work in Strauss's operatic output, following his earlier success with Salome.12

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Richard Strauss
Life
In 1909 the opera Elektra marked Strauss’s first collaboration with the Austrian poet and dramatist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Strauss wrote the music and Hofmannsthal the libretti for five more operas over the next 20 years. With the 1911 premiere of their second opera together, Der Rosenkavalier, they achieved a…
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In 1909 the opera Elektra marked Strauss’s first collaboration with the Austrian poet and dramatist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Strauss wrote the music and Hofmannsthal the libretti for five more operas over the next 20 years. With the 1911 premiere of their second opera together, Der Rosenkavalier, they achieved a…
Read More

opera
Later opera in Germany and Austria
…German by Hedwig Lachmann) and Elektra (1909). With the latter work Strauss began a long and fruitful association with the poet and dramatist Hugo von Hofmannsthal as his librettist. Couched in a powerful harmonic idiom, requiring huge orchestral forces and singers of great vocal power and stamina, Salome and Elektra…
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…German by Hedwig Lachmann) and Elektra (1909). With the latter work Strauss began a long and fruitful association with the poet and dramatist Hugo von Hofmannsthal as his librettist. Couched in a powerful harmonic idiom, requiring huge orchestral forces and singers of great vocal power and stamina, Salome and Elektra…
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counterpoint
The 20th century
Richard Strauss’s Elektra (1909) was one of the earliest works to make use of polytonality; in certain passages the instruments and voice parts are grouped into layers, each of which defines a different tonality, or key, although in this case all of the keys can also be…
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Richard Strauss’s Elektra (1909) was one of the earliest works to make use of polytonality; in certain passages the instruments and voice parts are grouped into layers, each of which defines a different tonality, or key, although in this case all of the keys can also be…
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basset horn
…revived by Richard Strauss (Elektra, first performed 1909).
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…revived by Richard Strauss (Elektra, first performed 1909).
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