On March 12 and 15, 2026, the Dresden Philharmonic will perform Richard Strauss’ “Elektra” in concert form at the Dresden Kulturpalast.

The work will be conducted by chief conductor Sir Donald Runnicles, who has become an acclaimed interpreter of Strauss’ masterwork following performances at the Wiener Staatsoper, BBC Proms, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera, and the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

In a statement Runnicles said,“The Dresden Philharmonic already has a rich tradition of concert performances of operas, which I am very much looking forward to continuing. For a symphony orchestra, it is always an enriching and inspiring experience to delve into an operatic repertoire with which it is less familiar. Richard Strauss’s ‘Elektra’ is a masterpiece; the opera is a brilliant psychological, Freudian thriller that unfolds with overwhelming power in its compact, almost 100 minutes. The virtuosic orchestral score vividly brings to life the inner drama between the profoundly human protagonists and continually explores those emotions that defy description. With an outstanding cast of singers and the Dresden Philharmonic, it promises to be an unforgettable evening.”

The cast will include Ausrine Stundyte in the title role of Elektra, Karita Mattila as Klytämnestra, Elisabeth Teige as Chrysothemis, Thomas Blondelle as Aegisthus, and Albert Pesendorfer as Orestes.

Read Related Stories 

• Dresden Philharmonic to Open with Rolf Gupta’s Oratorio