Vier letzte Lieder
Soprano Christina Nilsson is the soloist in Richard Strauss’ wonderful Vier letzte Lieder. The concert opens with Unsuk Chin’s Frontispiece fast-forwarding through history, with Conductor Laureate Alan Gilbert.
About the video
- Published online 4 June 2023.
- Filmed 27 April 2023.
- The video is approximately 40 minutes.
- Subtitles in English and Swedish is activated by using the CC control in the video player.
Richard Strauss composed many works with his wife Pauline as the source of inspiration – she was a renowned soprano. He was in his 80s when he came upon a poem by Joseph von Eichendorff about an aging couple who, at the end of their lives together, observe the setting sun and ask themselves: “Might this be death?” This inspired him to begin composing a song cycle that was never completed. After Strauss’ death, his publisher put the four completed songs together, naming them Vier letzte Lieder, “Four Last Songs.”
As vocal soloist, we hear the young soprano Christina Nilsson, who confirmed her place on the opera scene with her sensational debut role as Aida with the Royal Swedish Opera in 2018. She has performed with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra several times.
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s Conductor Laureate Alan Gilbert conducted the world premiere of Unsuk Chin’s Frontispiece – which opens the concert – when he took over as chief conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in 2019. Unsuk Chin describes the music as a sort of fast-forwarding through history, in which music from different eras emerges in new forms and blends together. Unsuk Chin was featured at Konserthuset’s 2013 Composer Festival.
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The music
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Unsuk Chin Frontispiece
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Interview with Alan Gilbert and Christina Nilsson
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Richard Strauss Four Last Songs
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Participants
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Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
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Alan Gilbert conductor
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Christina Nilsson soprano
