Angel Blue sings Vier letzte Lieder

Tivoli Copenhagen Phil
Conductor: Christoph Gedshold
Soloist: Angel Blue, soprano

When asked what they would most love to sing with a full symphony orchestra, many of the world's leading sopranos would answer without hesitation: Richard Strauss's Vier letzte Lieder. American soprano Angel Blue, who has graced the grandest stages from The Proms and The Met to La Scala and the Vienna State Opera, is no exception. After captivating audiences at Tivoli Concert Hall last year, she returns with a performance of Strauss's magnificent swan song. 

Richard Strauss, a rare talent and child prodigy, enjoyed a long and illustrious career, becoming an elder statesman of music. He began by creating romantic tone poems of sublime beauty, later venturing into dramatic and tonally adventurous operas. In 1948, at the age of 84 and having witnessed two world wars, Strauss composed his final work, Vier letzte Lieder—songs that reflect a resigned and contemplative view of life's end. 
Although not originally conceived as a cycle, Strauss's Vier letzte Lieder have been performed as such since their earliest presentations. The first song finds the aging narrator reminiscing about the springtime of life, with a gentle horn solo—Strauss's favourite instrument—concluding the soprano's phrase. The second song evokes the melancholy of autumn in sombre tones, while the third, a lullaby, features one of the most breathtaking concertmaster solos in the repertoire. Finally, in "Im Abendrot," the soprano softly asks, "Is this perhaps death?"—a moment of such sublime intimacy that it leaves audiences breathless. 

These songs, cherished by the greatest voices of our time, possess a timeless and universal appeal. With Angel Blue's warm, supple soprano, this performance promises an evening of exceptional artistry and rare emotional depth.