Münchner Philharmoniker / Anja Harteros / Zubin Mehta

Description

Please note the following changes: Unfortunately Lorin Maazel had to withdraw from the concert with the Münchner Philharmoniker on May 21st due to health issues. Zubin Mehta, honory conductor of the Münchner Philharmonic, will conduct the concert in the Laeiszhalle. The programme remains the same.

He would have turned 150 on June 11, 2014 – the composer and conductor Richard Strauss. He perfected the art of the tone poem, a genre once invented by Berlioz and Liszt and his operas belong to the core repertoire of every opera house. Strauss was well aware of his extraordinary achievements. When a critic called his »Heldenleben« (A Hero´s Life) too narcissistic, Strauss replied: »I can see no reason not to write a symphony about myself. I consider myself just as interesting as Napoleon or Alexander the Great.« To celebrate Strauss’s birthday properly, an orchestra from his home town Munich is a must: The Munich Philharmonic, characterised by conductors such as Sergiu Celibidache or Christian Thielemann. Besides two tone poems, the orchestra also performs Strauss´ sublime swan song, »Four Last Songs«. Since their world premiere these soaring songs have been the domain of every great soprano, amongst them Anja Harteros, the evening´s soprano soloist.