These are some press comments on a concert performance of Strauss' "Elektra" with the Royal Swedish Opera at the Opera Festival in Savonlinna, Finland, July 2010:

Richard Strauss' Elektra is a grand musical achievement by the Royal Opera Stockholm. The Finnish National Opera never could have accomplished a similar, stellar hyper-dramatic performance with an all-finnish cast. ...
Elektra is made like a symphonic opera. From the tension between Elektra's aggressive and Chrysothemis' lyric themes rises a huge expressionistic eruption and a symphonic drama. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera under Patrik Ringborg's baton ... proved to be a virtuoso, glowingly colourful, darkly dramatic and liltingly delicate opera orchestra on elite level.
The hate, the rage, and the anxiety in Elektra was discharged with intoxicating cogency. A lyrical and sensual beauty also glowed in the music, strangely foreboding Strauss' next opera, the comical, romantic Rosenkavalier.
(Helsingin Sanomat, 30.07.2010)

Patrik Ringborg brings the extremes out of the orchestra. In the very loudest forte-passages he demands yet a little more, and dulcetly traces the moments of happiness. Everything is brought out of the low brass and the percussion arsenal. The major structure culminates in the tragic, jubilant dance in the end.
(Itä-Savo, 30.07.2010)

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