René Pape and The Dresden Semperoper ring in the 2014 Richard Strauss Year with Elektra and standing ovations

With Christian Thielemann at the helm, and together with the Dresdner Staatskkapelle and a luxury ensemble of singers, René Pape and his hometown have set the standard for this year’s celebrations honoring the 150th anniversary of Richard Strauss. Dresden, which hosted the premieres of numerous Strauss operas within the composer’s lifetime, heads up the festivities with the first major opera production, Elektra, and maintains its century long tradition as an address to the world’s finest music. Pape now brings his acclaimed Orest to Dresden audiences 105 years after the opera’s original debut.

Leading an outstanding cast, René Pape, whose „phenomenal and enormous presence“ (KURIER) and „concentrated vocally-thundering dominant Orest“ (DIE WELT)  “once again offers a first rate performance.” (SALZBURGER NACHRICHTEN)

The 20 minute standing ovation given by the Semperoper audience at the close of the premiere crowned this „glorious start“ into the Richard Strauss Anniversary Year. The “Black diamond bass” follows up this production of Elektra in his hometown with a visit to Zurich as Phillip II followed by performances of Sarastro and Landgraf in Berlin. May sees his return to La Scala, with further celebratory performances of Elektra.