Conducted by Kirill Karabits, the BSO’s Chief Conductor, the Orchestra will be joined by Catherine Foster as Elektra, in her first UK operatic performance in 20 years. Alongside Catherine Foster, the Orchestra will be joined by Allison Oakes in her UK operatic debut as Chrysothemis, a role in which she made her Metropolitan Opera debut last season, and Susan Bullock, who is internationally acclaimed for her Elektra and will be making her UK debut as Klytemnestra.
Catherine Foster said “I’m absolutely thrilled to have been invited by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to sing, not only a favourite role of mine, on returning to the UK, but combining that with the city and stunning Symphony Hall where it all began for me as a BMus student at the Royal Birmingham conservatoire makes this something very special.”
Dougie Scarfe, the BSO’s Chief Executive, said: “Catherine Foster has achieved phenomenal success across Europe, including for the last six years as Brünnhilde in the Ring Cycle at Bayreuth, and we’re thrilled to have her as our Elektra. The casting of Catherine Foster, Allison Oakes and Susan Bullock, three outstanding and experienced dramatic sopranos who will each be singing their particular roles in the UK for the first time, demonstrates the high ambition of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to perform Elektra at the very highest level.”
In 2015, Kirill Karabits conducted the BSO in a critically acclaimed performance of Strauss’ Salome. The Times commented ‘under Kirill Karabits’s baton this extraordinary score erupted with all the vivid, visceral strangeness that so shocked audiences at its 1905 premiere’. In addition to his outstanding work with the BSO over the last 10 years, Kirill is currently Generalmusikdirektor of the Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar, where Richard Strauss held the role of second Kapellmeister from 1889 to 1894.
Kirill Karabits said “I’m delighted to be part of this wonderful project with such a great cast. In order to perform this complex and visceral score you need an orchestra at the top of its game, and I have no doubt that the BSO will be able to deliver. After our huge success with Salome four years ago, Elektra will surely be a highlight of the 2019/20 season!”
The BSO’s performances of Elektra, taking place on Wednesday 18 March 2020 in Poole and Saturday 21 March 2020 in Birmingham, form part of the Orchestra’s 2019/20 Concert Season, which will be announced next month along with further details on cast and concert staging.
Richard Strauss Elektra
18 March 2020 | Lighthouse, Poole
21 March 2020 | Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Kirill Karabits conductor
Catherine Foster Elektra
Allison Oakes Chrysothemis
Susan Bullock Klytemnestra
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra