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World Premiere of a Reduced Orchestration of Richard Strauss's Elektra, Arranged by Richard Dünser

Jun. 26, 2023

On June 11, the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck presented the world premiere performance of Richard Strauss's Elektra, in a reduced orchestration by Richard Dünser. The production, which runs through July 9, is conducted by Lukas Beikircher and directed by Johannes Reitmeier. Dünser notes:

"It was a great challenge to make a new, reduced version of Elektra; the original instrumentation is flawless and Strauss was one of the greatest orchestrators of all time. On the other hand, the work is from another epoch and, like Schönberg’s Gurrelieder and Mahler’s 8th Symphony, a child of its time in its monumentality, the three works ending an epoch. From today’s standpoint it is possible and also intriguing to introduce a new reading for consideration, to hear certain details differently, to point up nuanced tonal shadings and orchestral developments – in particular if that enables performances of the opera in midsize and small houses, apart from very large ones.

My approach was to retain as many of Strauss’s sonic ideas as possible and transfer them from a gigantic orchestra to a standard-size symphony orchestra, without losing the force, vehemence and drama of the original."


Composer Richard Dünser on reducing Strauss's Elektra

To learn more about Richard Strauss, visit universaledition.com.

Richard Strauss
Elektra 
reduced orchestration by Richard Dünser (2017/2018)
2.2.3.2-4.2.3.1-timp-3perc-hp-harm(cel)-str(10.9.8.7.5)
105'

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