Opera

Clef du Mois Res Musica (France)

***** ‘a thrilling, often revelatory performance, alive to every intense and modernistic gesture. Valery Gergiev finds both great colour and emotional depth in the music … the London Symphony Orchestra on superb form … First-class sound and presentation’ Time Out (UK)

***** 'Dass Valery Gergiev mehr als andere Dirigenten aus der Strauss-Oper 'Elektra' einen musikalischen Hexenkessel machen wuerde, war vorauszusehen: Das tragische Drama mit seinen Leidenschaften, seinen Grausamkeiten und seinem ganzen Grauen ist bei ihm in kochenden Haenden. Wie kein anderer arbeitet er die Kontraste und Dissonanzen heraus und entzuendet im Orchester eine Klangexplosion von ekstatischer Gewalt.' Pizzicato (Luxembourg)

Recording ***** ‘Gergiev, with the LSO in fine form and vivid SACD sound, conveys passions and tensions with compelling, sometimes deafening power.’ BBC Music Magazine (UK)

‘The phenomenal playing and virtuosity demonstrated by the 112 players of the LSO combined with the close Barbican sound allows the listener unprecedented access to the inner workings of Strauss’s score in a fashion that would be impossible in the opera house.’
Classical CD Choice (UK)

*** ‘Une distribution vocale frisant la perfection donne à cette interprétation tout sa grandeur’ (A vocal line-up bordering on perfection gives this interpretation all its grandeur)
Valeurs Actuelles (France)

'This may well be the most perfectly played Elektra on disc' Ariama.com (USA)

‘Valery Gergiev was clearly born to conduct Elektra, and not just because of his trademark animal energy. Whatever the technical complexity behind the score, Gergiev has the LSO sailing through metre- and key-changes with almost effortless fluidity, and Strauss’s dramaturgical acumen has never seemed clearer.’ Gramophone (UK)

‘The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gergiev presents a riveting performance of Strauss’ one-act opera Elektra … Highly recommended’ The Northern Echo (UK)

‘The cast for this live concert recording is mostly compelling … the star of this release (particularly the SACD version) is Strauss's writing for a massive orchestra, with super-saturated detail and climaxes that hit a listener in the solar plexus.’ Listen (USA)

Concert Reviews

‘With the London Symphony Orchestra playing with spectacular virtuosity and total commitment, Gergiev set the temperature at boiling point from the first explosive bar, and the effect was instantly scalding ... you’d be unlikely to find a staged Elektra as well sung or played as this one was’
The Daily Telegraph (UK), concert review

‘He [Gergiev] excelled at the juddering opening paragraphs and the frenetic setpeices ... Angela Denoke’s glinting soprano etched a glowing portrait of jaded innocence out of Chrysothemis’s woes. Matthias Goerne’s Orestes had introspective gravitas ... the standout performer was the matchless Felicity Palmer’
The Times (UK), concert review