Elektra -final Scene, Ariadne auf Naxos -final Scene : Beecham / Royal Philharmonic, Schluter, Schoffler, Cebotari, etc (1947 Monaural)

RICHARD STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Elektra, Ariadne auf Naxos (Final Scenes)

Elektra - Final Scene

Elektra - Erna Schluter
Orest - Paul Schoffler
Chrysothemis - Ljuba Welitsch
Aegisth - Walter Widdop
Recorded in EMI Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, London, 27th-29th October, 1947

Ariadne auf Naxos - Final Scene

Ariadne - Maria Cebotari
Bacchus - Karl Friedrich
Zerbinetta - Margaret Field-Hyde
Recorded in EMI Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, London, 13th-15th October, 1947

Royal Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor

Reissue Producer and Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn

Sourced from American RCA Victor shellac pressings for Elektra, and HMV test pressings for Ariadne auf Naxos which were unpublished on 78rpm, this Naxos Historical album celebrates the enormous mutual admiration between Richard Strauss and Sir Thomas Beecham. Beecham had introduced Elektra to London in 1910 and presented the first version of Ariadne in London three years later. The recordings heard here of the final scenes from each opera were made almost three decades later following performances given in the presence of the composer. For the recording of Elektra, Beecham was fortunate to be to able call upon the renowned interpreters of Strauss’s music Erna Schluter, Ljuba Welitsch and Paul Schoffler, who were appearing with the Vienna State Opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. ( NAXOS )