R. Strauss - Scenes from Elektra

On Monday I returned to that Reiner disc I dug up last week and relistened to the scenes from Elektra. Really compelling stuff that makes want to audition this opera more completely. Inge Borkh is, of course, legendary in this role. I also have her DGG recording made under Karl Böhm with the Staatskapelle Dresden. Despite its expressionistic antics the work struck me as more Wagnerian than ever. The Recognition Scene, with sonorous Wagner tuben playing an important role in its darkly hued sound world, reminds me of Walküre Act I (in fact Elektra contains what may be the most difficult tuba parts in existence). To be revisited soon, I hope.