Elektra, 1932 (fragment) & Salome, 1934. Göta Ljunberg, Gertrude Kappel, Friederich Schorr.

A note on the recording. Sadly the acetate transcription discs were very worn and listening may be challenging for those not used to historical live recordings. Göta Ljungberg was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano, particularly renowned for her performances in the operas of Richard Wagner. Born in Sundsvall on 4 October 1893, she studied voice in Stockholm, Milan, and Berlin before making her operatic debut in 1917 as Gutrune in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung at the Royal Swedish Opera. During the 1920s and 1930s, Ljungberg built an international career, appearing at major opera houses including the Royal Opera House, the Berlin State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera. She was admired not only for her powerful voice but also for her dramatic acting and stage presence. Her most acclaimed roles included Isolde, Brünnhilde, Sieglinde, Salome, Tosca, and Elektra. Vocal difficulties eventually curtailed her singing career, and she later worked as a teacher in New York. She died in Lidingö on 28 June 1955. Today, she is remembered as one of Sweden’s foremost Wagnerian sopranos and for the important recordings she left behind. 00:00 - 08:55 Elektra. (Fragment) New York, 3 December, 1932: Elektra: Gertrude Kappel Chrysothemis: Gota Ljunberg Klytamnestra: Karin Branzell Conductor: Artur Bodanzky 08:55 - 1:40:13 New York 10 March, 1934. Salome (Complete): Salome: Gota Ljungberg Jochanaan: Friedrich Schorr Herodes: Max Lorenz Herodias: Dorothee Manski Narraboth: Hans Clemens Page of Herodias: Doris Doe First Nazarene: Emanuel List Second Nazarene: Hans Clemens First Soldier: Louis D'Angelo Second Soldier: Arnold Gabor Cappadocian: Alfredo Gandolfi Slave: Helen Gleason First Jew: Marek Windheim Second Jew: Giordano Paltrinieri Third Jew: Angelo Bada Fourth Jew: Max Altglass Fifth Jew: James Wolfe Conductor: Artur Bodanzky