Okka von der Damerau / Levi Hammer

Hamburg-born, internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Okka von der Damerau and US conductor and pianist Levi Hammer met during a production of »Tristan und Isolde« in Los Angeles. It was there that the desire arose to meet artistically in Hamburg with a song recital. Johannes Brahms wrote many of his 200 songs for the alto Hermine Spies, who was famous throughout Europe in the late 20th century. She was only 36 years old and died shortly after her wedding and retreat into private life. Inspired by the songs dedicated to Hermine Spies and performed for the first time, the programme combines Brahms’ songs with Richard Wagner’s »Wesendonck Lieder« and is thus dedicated to the inexhaustible source of inspiration of unfulfilled love and longing.