FOUR LAST SONGS

ABOUT

Richard Strauss composed his Four Last Songs in 1948, a year before his death. A cornerstone of the 20th-century vocal repertoire, this cycle forms the composer’s valedictory meditation on life and nature. Sung by the remarkable Karina Gauvin in this arrangement for chamber ensemble, each of the four songs—settings of poems by Hermann Hesse and Joseph von Eichendorff—becomes an unfolding confession that expresses twilight serenity, luminous nostalgia, and ultimately calm acceptance, with gripping clarity. Olivier Larue’s intimate rereading of the masterpiece brings out its timeless and profoundly human nature. Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no. 1 in D major, presented in the second part of the program, was strongly inspired by the universe of Lieder. Mahler’s first symphony marks his entry into the genre and is an early statement of his musical language.    

The concert will be preceded by a talk.

PROGRAM

Richard Strauss (1864–1949), arr. Olivier Larue (born in 1971)

Four Last Songs, TrV 296

I. Frühling

II. September 

III. Beim Schlafengehen 

IV. Im Abendrot 

Gustav Mahler (1860–1911), arr. Klaus Simon (born in 1968)

Symphony no. 1  in D Major

I. Langsam, schleppend. Wie ein Naturlaut 

II. Kräftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell 

III. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen 

IV. Stürmisch bewegt



ARTISTS