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Letzte Lieder – March 11, 1990 | Walter Hall, Toronto
Songs of Richard Strauss, with a brief visit from Gustav Mahler

date: March 11, 1990

We began with an early Weihnachtslied of 1870 and finished with one of the Four Last Songs, at the conclusion of which we were able to flow seamlessly into a recording of the orchestral postlude, in all its sunset glow. This provided a dramatically surprising end to the concert, which also included Strauss’s last completed work, Malven. Our narrative thread took in the composer’s, at times, tempestuous courtship of the singer, Pauline de Ahna, together with his complicated relations with fellow composer, Mahler. The second half followed the downward trajectory of Strauss’s relations with the Nazi regime and his reactions to tyranny and war.

Song Artist Composer Poet
Weihnachtslied Fortin, Lyne, soprano; Graham, Sandra, mezzo; Braun, Russell, baritone; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Strauss, Richard Schubart, Christian
Rote Rosen Graham, Sandra, mezzo; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Strauss, Richard Stieler, Karl
Zueignung, Op.10/1 Schade, Michael, tenor; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Gilm, Hermann von
Nichts, Op.10/2 Schade, Michael, tenor; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Gilm, Hermann von
Ach, weh mir, unglückhaftem Mann, Op.21/4 Braun, Russell, baritone; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Strauss, Richard Dahn, Felix
Traum durch die Dämmerung, Op. 29/1 Braun, Russell, baritone; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Strauss, Richard Bierbaum, Otto Julius
Die Nacht, Op.10/3 Fortin, Lyne, soprano; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Strauss, Richard Gilm, Hermann von
Kling! Op.48/3 Graham, Sandra, mezzo; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Henckell, Karl
Ich trage meine Minne, Op.32/1 Schade, Michael, tenor; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Henckell, Karl
Liebeshymnus, Op.32/3 Schade, Michael, tenor; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Henckell, Karl
Lob des hohen Verstands (Lieder aus “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”) Braun, Russell, baritone; Ralls, Stephen, piano Mahler, Gustav anon. (Des Knaben Wunderhorn)
Lied des Verfolgten im Turm (Lieder aus “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”) Graham, Sandra, mezzo; Braun, Russell, baritone; Ralls, Stephen, piano Mahler, Gustav anon. (Des Knaben Wunderhorn)
Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen Graham, Sandra, mezzo; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Mahler, Gustav Rückert, Friedrich
Befreit, Op.39/4 Fortin, Lyne, soprano; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Dehmel, Richard
Heimliche Aufforderung, Op.27/3 Schade, Michael, tenor; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Mackay, John Henry
INTERMISSION
Walzer (Der Rosenkavalier) Ralls, Stephen / Ubukata, Bruce, piano Strauss, Richard, arr. Singer, Otto n/a
Malven Fortin, Lyne, soprano; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Wehrli-Knobel, Betti
O Schröpferschwarm, Op.66/12 (Krämerspiegel) Schade, Michael, tenor; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Kerr, Alfred
Von künftigen Alter, Op.87/1 Braun, Russell, baritone; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Rückert, Friedrich
Das Bächlein Fortin, Lyne, soprano; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Strauss, Richard anon.
Kanonen-Song (Dreigroschenoper) Schade, Michael, tenor; Braun, Russell, baritone; Ralls, Stephen / Ubukata, Bruce, piano Weill, Kurt Brecht, Bertolt
Ruhe, meine Seele! Op.27/1 Graham, Sandra, mezzo; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Strauss, Richard Henckell, Karl
Im Abendrot (Vier letzte Lieder) Fortin, Lyne, soprano; Ralls, Stephen, piano Strauss, Richard Eichendorff, Joseph Freiherr von
Eine Oper ist ein absurdes Ding (Capriccio, Op.85)   – ENCORE Fortin, Lyne, soprano; Graham, Sandra, mezzo; Schade, Michael, tenor; Braun, Russell, baritone; Ralls, Stephen / Ubukata, Bruce, piano Strauss, Richard Strauss, Richard / Krauss, Clemens