R. Strauss Elektra - Böhm - Borkh - Fischer-Dieskau - Staatskapelle Dresden
This legendary 1960 recording of Richard Strauss’s Elektra remains a cornerstone of the operatic discography, capturing a definitive intersection of dramatic intensity and orchestral precision. Conducted by Karl Böhm, a close associate of Strauss himself, this performance with the Staatskapelle Dresden offers an authoritative interpretation that balances the score’s modernist violence with its lush, post-Romantic lyricism.
Inge Borkh delivers a career-defining performance in the title role, portraying the vengeful protagonist with a searing vocal power and psychological depth that few have ever matched. She is brilliantly countered by Jean Madeira’s haunting Klytämnestra and Marianne Schech’s radiant Chrysothemis. The presence of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as Orest adds a layer of noble gravity to the recognition scene, while the Staatskapelle Dresden provides a rich, dark-hued orchestral foundation that underscores every moment of the tragedy.
Artist(s): Conductor – Karl Böhm
Orchestra – Staatskapelle Dresden
Soprano Vocals – Gerda Schreyer, Hermi Ambros, Ilona Steingruber, Inge Borkh, Judith Hellwig, Margarete Sjöstedt, Marianne Schech, Renate Reinecke
Alto Vocals – Sieglinde Wagner
Tenor Vocals – Fritz Uhl, Gerhard Unger
Bass Vocals – Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Fred Teschler, Siegfried Vogel
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Cvetka Ahlin, Jean Madeira
Chorus – Chor der Staatsoper Dresden
Chorus Master – Ernst Hintze
Recording Info: Recorded at the Lukaskirche, Dresden, in October 1960
Engineer – Heinrich Keilholz
Producer – Wolfgang Lohse
Sourced from a 4-track tape
Components used for Transfer:
This transfer leverages precision analog playback and mastering-grade digital conversion. The signal path begins with a modified Nagra 4SJ with Flux Heads, fed through a Custom Tape Pre-amp designed by Victor Khomenko of Balanced Audio Technology for accurate NAB equalization. The analog signal converts via a Merging Hapi converter, synchronized to an Antelope Audio 10MX atomic clock for temporal accuracy. Software: Merging Pyramix v15. All components receive isolated power conditioning through a Shunyata Research Everest 8000 with Shunyata Sigma-X power cords, while grounding infrastructure utilizes Shunyata ALTAIRA hubs to minimize noise floor and preserve sonic detail throughout the transfer chain.
Please Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master
then the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using
Merging Technologies Album Publishing.
DXD (352.8KHz 24/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings
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