Met's new Elektra a triumph of music and theater

By Ako Imamura, 15 April 2016

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“we almost believed that they could reconcile, such was the power of acting”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House, New York City on 14 April 2016

Strauss R., Elektra

Metropolitan Opera

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor

Patrice Chéreau, Director

Richard Peduzzi, Set Designer

Caroline de Vivaise, Costume Designer

Adrianne Pieczonka, Chrysothemis

Nina Stemme, Elektra

Waltraud Meier, Klytaemnestra

Burkhard Ulrich, Aegisth

Eric Owens, Orest

Bonita Hyman, Maid 1

Maya Lahyani, Maid 2

Andrea Hill, Maid 3

Claudia Waite, Maid 4

Roberta Alexander, Maid 5

Susan Neves, Overseer

Mark Schowalter, Young Servant

James Courtney, Old Servant

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

The Metropolitan Opera Chorus

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****1

Innocence: Saariaho’s final opera receives New York premiere

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At the Metropolitan Opera, Innocence proves a gripping and perhaps divisive piece which feels real because it is a reflection of our reality, with no realistic hope of finding peace.

*****

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***11

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*****

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*****

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Ako Imamura

Atsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.