I purposely attended a performance with the alternate because of recordings and videos of Elena from London and other things. I enjoyed the alternate very much. Now, listening to the cast recording, I still think Elena is screechy, harsh and difficult to understand...at times, but I'm beginning to see how it could work in the role...in a very interesting way. That's assuming she's not worse in person than she is on the recording.
Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.