Preferred artist in Strauss opera (7)

I believe the answer is:

electra

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'strauss opera' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'preferred artist' is the wordplay.
'preferred' becomes 'elect' (I've seen this before).
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'elect'+'ra'='ELECTRA'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for electra that I've seen before include "King's daughter" , "Mourning Becomes ____ (play cycle Eugene O'Neill)" , "heroine of Greece" , "Mythical woman with a complex?" , "Complex girl" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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