ONE hundred years to the day since Strauss’ opera Elektra was premiered in Dresden, a capacity audience at The Sage Gateshead was swept away by a scorching concert performance of the work by Opera North. From the opening cataclysmic chords the music was driven relentlessly to its violent conclusion, propelled on by top notch performances. Susan Bullock in the role of Elektra, one of the most demanding works for a dramatic soproano, was in fine form. She occupied her part completely, her powerful voice projected with ease above the torrent of music from enormous orchestral forces. Based on the play by Sophocles the opera revolves around Elektra’s desire for revenge for the dishonourable death of her father King Agamemnon, at the hands of her mother Klytemnestra and lover Aegisthus. One of the highlights of the evening was the confrontation between Elektra and her mother, played by venomous spite by Rebecca de Pont Davies. The exchange bristled with menace ending in Klytemnestra’s maniacal cackle at being told of death of her son Orestes in a chariot race. Bullock was perfectly coupled with Alwyn Mellor, playing the sister Chrysothemis. Her depiction of Chrysothemis, who wants life, was superlative. Having faked his death, Orestes played by Robert Bork arrives in disguise, leading to a compelling recognition scene with Elektra. The screams of Klytemnestra’s being murdered were suitably blood curdling. Elektra promised her father that she would dance on his grave once his murder was avenged. Bullock’s ecstatic dance that ends with her death and last mighty chords from the orchestra, under the baton of conductor Richard Farnes, was greeted with overwhelming a spontaneous roars of bravo from the audience. A truly memorable evening.