Meet the Characters

You may remember these classic characters of Greek antiquity from English class, but it’s always good to have a refresher. Here’s a crash course on these timeless characters and how they’re all related.

Elektra

Daughter of the murdered King Agamemnon
eh-LEK -truh
Soprano
Implacable and possessed by an all-consuming desire for revenge, Elektra spends her days in fits of rage and mourning.

Chrysothemis

Elektra’s sister
kroo-ZOE-teh-mees
Soprano
Unlike her sister, Chrysothemis longs for a normal life and to become a wife and mother.

Klytämnestra

Elektra’s mother, Agamemnon’s wife and one of his assassins
KLOO-tame-NES-truh
Mezzo-soprano
Fearsome and powerful, she is haunted by nightmares; seeking relief, she performs sacrifices to pacify the gods.

Orest

Son of Agamemnon, exiled from a young age by Klytämnestra
oh-REHST
Baritone
Although long absent from his native land, he is a figure of fear for Klytaemnestra and one of hope for Elektra.

Aegisth

(Aegisthus)
Klytämnestra’s lover; together, they murdered Agamemnon
ae-GHIST
Tenor
A secondary character in the opera, he appears only briefly before being murdered.

Photo Credits: Mathew Lefebvre — Costume Designer

Don’t miss MN Opera’s Elektra! See these classic characters of Greek literature come to life in a whole new way when Elektra opens on October 5! Get your tickets today at mnopera.org/elektra!