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L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O
February 2 - 22, 2019
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Elektra
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Synopsis
In the courtyard of Agamemnon’s palace, five maids discuss the
erratic behavior of Elektra, who has lost her rightful place in the
royal household and been condemned to a menial existence.
One of the maids unleashes the hostility of her companions by
declaring her loyalty to Elektra who, despite her strange ways, is
still a royal princess and daughter of the late king. e overseer,
who shares in the censure of Elektra, sends the maids inside,
where they continue to abuse their companion.
Elektra enters the courtyard, brooding on the murder of
her father and upon his unpunished assassins. She swears that
she and her siblings, Orest and Chrysothemis, will dance at
Agamemnon’s tomb when their vengeance will have set his soul
at peace. Chrysothemis comes to warn Elektra that Klytämnestra
and Aegisth are plotting to imprison her. She begs Elektra to
flee with her from the tortured existence they must endure in
the palace. Chrysothemis longs for a happier life – above all, to
bear children. She advises her sister to avoid Klytämnestra, who
the night before had been plagued by terrifying dreams. Elektra
replies that she must speak to Klytämnestra, and Chrysothemis
leaves as their mother approaches.
e sight of Elektra inspires fear in Klytämnestra and elicits
hostile remarks from the queen’s confidante and trainbearer, who
are sent away. Klytämnestra asks her daughter if she knows a
remedy for the nightmares and the suffering they provoke. Elektra
suggests that the sacrifice of an appropriate victim would end her
mother’s torment. When Klytämnestra presses her for details,
Elektra exultantly reveals that the queen herself must be the
victim whose blood is to be offered by the exiled Orest. Servants
rush in to whisper news to Klytämnestra, who begins to laugh as
if in triumph.
After the queen has left the courtyard, Elektra learns from
Chrysothemis that the news inspiring such joy in Klytämnestra
was the death of Orest. His legitimate claim to his father’s
throne had threatened the power and lives of his mother and her
paramour. Elektra refuses to believe her brother is dead, yet a
young servant seems to confirm the news when he asks an older
colleague for a horse to rush the tidings to Aegisth.
Elektra reveals to Chrysothemis that she has kept the axe that
was used to murder their father. She had intended to give it to
Orest so he could seek vengeance on Klytämnestra and Aegisth.
Now there is no alternative but immediate action. Elektra’s
request for help in the double murder horrifies Chrysothemis,
who rushes away, leaving Elektra resolved to exact her revenge
unaided.
A stranger enters, explaining that he is waiting to give
Klytämnestra an eyewitness account of Orest’s death. is new
confirmation of the awful news releases a torrent of grief in
Elektra, who discloses her identity. e stranger – Orest himself,
who had not previously recognized her – wonders that the dogs
at the gate knew him, but his sister does not. Now aware that the
man before her is her own brother, she is ecstatic.
Orest informs Elektra that he is on a mission of vengeance.
His tutor appears, chiding the siblings for recklessly discussing
their plans where they can be overheard. He tells Orest that
Klytämnestra awaits, and the two men enter the palace. Almost
immediately Klytämnestra’s shrieks ring out.
e courtyard
quickly fills with terrified servants, who flee to avoid fatal reprisals
from Aegisth when he hears that Klytämnestra has been murdered.
When Aegisth reaches the courtyard, he finds no one there
but Elektra. Although disturbed by her suddenly gentler and
sweeter demeanor, he allows her to light his way across the
threshold. Once inside, he is heard desperately calling for help. To
his shouts of “Can no one hear me?” Elektra cries, “Agamemnon
hears you!” Only a moment after Aegisth is killed, Chrysothemis
and the maids run out to tell Elektra that Orest has avenged the
murder of Agamemnon. Elektra performs a triumphal dance and
then falls senseless to the ground. Chrysothemis rushes to the
palace door, frantically calling for Orest.
e Trojan War began after Helen, sister-in-law of Mycenae’s King Agamemnon, eloped with Paris, Prince of Troy. Agamemnon, commander of the Greek
forces, set off to reclaim Helen, sacrificing his daughter Iphigenia to ensure favorable winds for the journey. His traumatized wife Klytämnestra sought comfort
in the arms of Agamemnon’s nephew, Aegisth (himself a child of incest). When Agamemnon returned, Klytämnestra and Aegisth murdered him and usurped
his throne, to the horror and despair of Elektra, daughter of Klytämnestra and Agamemnon. Elektra was able to ensure that her brother Orest was sent away to
safety before his mother and her lover could harm him.
Approximate Timing:
1 hour, 40 minutes
No Intermission