What is it like to perform Greek tragedy in an outdoor theater setting? The director, the composer and musical director, and cast members of the sold-out new production of Sophocles’ Elektra—which premieres tonight at the Getty Villa—gave us their take as they prepared to open the show. The production features a newly commissioned translation by Timberlake Wertenbaker of this epic tragedy of revenge and redemption, which is one of Sophocles’ most elegantly structured and emotionally wrenching works.

Update as of Thursday afternoon—a few tickets have just been released for this weekend’s performances.

Carey Perloff and Olympia Dukakis begin, followed by Manoel Felciano, who plays Orestes (at 1:16); composer and musical director Bonfire Madigan Shive (at 2:07); and Pamela Reed, who plays Clytemnestra (at 5:04).