About this programme

Donald Macleod introduces some of the music written for the soprano voice by Richard Strauss, much of which was inspired by his wife, soprano Pauline de Ahna. Strauss: Cäcilie, Op 27 No 2. Karita Mattila (soprano), Berlin Philharmonic, conductor Claudio Abbado. Have You Got All the Master's Things? (Intermezzo). Elisabeth Söderström (soprano: Christine), Marco Bakker (baritone: Robert Storch), London Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor John Pritchard. The Hero's Companion (Ein Heldenleben). Leon Spierer (solo violin), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Herbert von Karajan. Morgen, Op 27 No 4. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Edith Peinemann (solo violin), London Symphony Orchestra, conductor George Szell. Die frau ohne schatten (excerpt, Act 3). Ute Vinzing (soprano: Dyer's Wife), Alfred Muff (bass-baritone: Barak), Marjana Lipovsek (soprano: A voice from above), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch. Guntram: Finale (Act 3, Sc 4). Reiner Goldberg (tenor: Guntram), Ilona Tokody (soprano: Freihild), Hungarian State Orchestra, director Eve Queler.