RICHARD STRAUSS

Richard Strauss, a composer, conductor of remarkable talent and erudite, is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of Western European music. His music language switched from late romanticism and expressionism to neoclassicism. The name of R. Strauss is inseparable from the masterpieces of orchestral music. Up to the 20th century the composer was fascinated with the genre of symphonic poem, and in the beginning of the 20th century he started writing operas. His fame came with opera Salome, and Elektra marked his collaboration with the poet Hugo von Hofmannsthal, who became the librettist of as many as seven of R. Strauss’ operas. Perhaps their best-known joint work is the opera Der Rosenkavalier. The opera’s action takes place in Vienna, bustling with love stories, intrigues and passions, at the junction of the 18th-19th centuries. The main characters are the aristocrat Marschallin, the charming young man Octavian (the role is performed by a woman), the unmannerly Baron Ochs and virtuous Sophie. Romanticized and sensual melodies, rich harmony, magical orchestral colours are transferred to a deceptively simple diatonic style. In this composition, rich in light Vienna waltz rhythms and melodies, deep feelings intertwine with elements of harsh comedy.

Soloists Gunta Gelgotė, Viktorija Miškūnaitė and Anastasia Lebedyantseva will perform Sophie, Marschallin and Octavian’s sophisticatedly lyrical and melancholic final trio with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by maestro Modestas Pitrėnas.