A masterpiece of the late Romantic period, Richard Strauss’ »Ein Heldenleben« is a symphonic showcase of power and emotion. Under the baton of chief conductor Alan Gilbert, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra brings this iconic work to life in the Grand Hall.
Please note: Due to licensing restrictions, only Strauss’ »Ein Heldenleben« is available as a recording. The performance of Mozart’s piano concerto on 28 March 2025 will not be streamed.
Performers
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
Emanuel Ax piano
conductor Alan Gilbert
Programme
Richard Strauss
Ein Heldenleben / Tone Poem for Large Orchestra, Op. 40
About the music
Richard Strauss is said to have remarked about Mozart’s music, »Look, that’s how easily I want to compose!« However, his monumental tone poem »Ein Heldenleben« (»A Hero’s Life«) is anything but simple. This masterpiece of evocative programmatic music and virtuosic orchestration showcases Strauss at his most ambitious. Yet, even in its boldness, »Ein Heldenleben« carries echoes of the »passion stripped of all earthly things« that Strauss so admired in Mozart. Composed in 1898, the work portrays a hero battling his enemies – a theme the composer himself used to describe the score. And who could bring such a subject to life with more intensity and supernatural brilliance than Strauss? After all, he once half-jokingly claimed to find himself »just as interesting as Napoleon or Alexander«. So it is certainly not a stretch to see »Ein Heldenleben« as inspired from autobiographical thoughts and ideas …
