Strauss Happening

"The only revolutionary of our time was Strauss!", according to Schoenberg. In order to find out exactly what he meant by this, deSingel will be devoting an entire day to Strauss. deFilharmonie will be supplying the grand opening, with 'Ein Heldenleben', a sort of inflated symphonic autobiography of the composer at the height of his powers. Note how the prickly 'Widersacher' passages already point the way to Stravinsky's 'Sacre' fifteen years later. The Fauré Quartett and conservatory students will taking on the finest chamber music. In early works like the Serenade opus 7, Strauss already displays his stunning gift for counterpoint and orchestration. Sixty years later, 'Metamorphosen' is a moving return to the small-scale opulence of these early works. Naturally, close attention will be paid to the songs, famous for their creation of atmosphere and inventive textual evocation. The celebrated British Lieder pianist Roger Vignoles will be unmasking their secrets in an unmissable lecture recital. A little later on, you will also hear him at work with one of the most beautiful contemporary soprano voices. Strauss' scores for choir are often grossly overlooked, but the Flanders Opera Chorus will be dusting off these treasures for you. The ultimate highlight will be an unusual performance of 'Der Rosenkavalier'. In his uniquely sumptuous style, this is Strauss's tribute to Mozart and opera buffa. In 1926, a film adaptation of it was made, for which the composer himself reworked the whole score for a large orchestra, complete with instrumentalised vocal lines and additional passages. Along with deFilharmonie, Edo de Waart will be serving up a delicious symbiosis of film and living music.