Name: Vier letzte Lieder
Start: 2023-04-26T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Konserthuset (Stockholm Concert Hall)

Organization

Conductor

Alan Gilbert

Soprano

Christina Nilsson

Sopran

Konserthuset Stockholm

Orchestra

Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

Vier letzte Lieder

Stockholm

Sweden

Konserthus

The Main Hall

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s Conductor Laureate Alan Gilbert conducted the world premiere of Unsuk Chin’s Frontispiece 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.

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, most recently at a summer concert in 2019.

Beauty and tranquillity continue in the Pastoral Symphony, in which Beethoven describes life in the countryside in the early nineteenth century. He gave the various movements painterly names: “Awakening of Cheerful Feelings Upon Arrival in the Countryside”, “Scene by the Brook”, “Merry Gathering of Country Folk”, “Thunderstorm” and “Shepherd’s Song”. It is a bright, musical journey through the countryside, with only a storm disrupting the idyllic scene.

Vier letzte Lieder: Frontispiece (+2 More)

Public

Frontispiece

Four Last Songs

Symphony No. 6 in F Major, op.68 ("Pastoral")

Approved

Konserthuset (Stockholm Concert Hall)

Bass

Instrumentalist

Pianist

Violinist

Cellist

Violist

Flutist

Clarinetist

Guitarist

Organist

Percussionist

hornist

Oboist

Bassoonist

Trumpeter

Contrabassist

Trombonist

Harper

Saxophonist

Harpsichordist

Bassist

Accordionist

Tuba Player

Recorder Player

Lutenist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Mandoline Player

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Violino Piccolo Player

Viola da gamba

Musette de cour Player

Viola Pomposa Player

Archlutenist

Vibraphonist

Cornettist

Viola d’amore Player

Theorbist

Composer

Stage director

Librettist

Set designer

Costume designer

Choreographer

Lighting designer

Dancer

Actor

Chorus master

Video designer

Dramaturge

Translator

Sound designer

Repetiteur

Makeup artist

Executive producer

Hairstylist

Other

Stage Manager

Choir

Poet

Vocal coach

Teacher

Photographer

Broadcasting

Illustrator

Writer

Writing and performance

Chorus Director

Wig & Makeup Designer

Orchestra Operations

Extra

Mezzo-soprano

Singer

Tenor

Baritone

Bass-baritone

Countertenor

Contralto

Spoken

Child vocalist

Silent

Alto

Continuo

Vier letzte Lieder: Frontispiece for orchestra (+2 More)

English

Kungliga Filharmonikernas hedersdirigent Alan Gilbert uruppförde Unsuk Chins Frontispiece när han 2019 tillträdde som chefdirigent för NDR Elbphilharmonie. Unsuk Chin beskriver musiken som en sorts snabbspolning genom historien, där musik från olika epoker uppstår i nya former och blandas med varandra. Unsuk Chin var 2013 föremål för Konserthusets Tonsättarfestival.

Richard Strauss skrev många verk med sin fru Pauline som inspirationskälla – hon var själv en framgångsrik sopran. Han var i 80-årsåldern när han kom över en dikt av Joseph von Eichendorff, om ett åldrande par som i slutet av sina liv tillsammans ser på den nedgående solen och frågar sig: ”är det kanske döden?”. Detta inspirerade honom till att börja komponera en sångcykel, som aldrig blev klar. Efter Strauss död förde hans förläggare ihop de fyra slutförda sångerna och döpte dem till Vier letzte Lieder, ”Fyra sista sånger”.

Som sångsolist hör vi den unga sopranen Christina Nilsson, som befäste sin plats på operahimlen med den sensationella rolldebuten som Aida på Kungliga Operan 2018. Hon har framträtt med Kungliga Filharmonikerna flera gånger, senast vid en sommarkonsert 2019.

Det vackra och fridfulla fortsätter i Pastoralsymfonin, där Beethoven beskriver livet på landet i början av 1800-talet. Han gav de olika satserna målande namn: ”Glada känslors uppvaknande vid ankomsten till landet”, ”Vid bäcken”, ”Lustigt samkväm med lantfolk”, ”Åskväder och storm” och ”Herdesång”. Det är en ljus musikalisk resa på landet, med bara ett ovädersutbrott som stör idyllen.

svenska

Vier letzte Lieder by Chin, Strauss, Beethoven, From (2023/2023), Conductor Alan Gilbert, Konserthuset (Stockholm Concert Hall), Stockholm, Sweden

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues