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Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs

Soul Music Series 8

An exploration of the impact of Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs, which deal with the themes of love and death. From 2009.

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.

Richard Strauss was 84 when he completed his last work. It was the Four Last Songs, which, although about death, convey a sense of calm acceptance. It was written of its time in 1948, but it still touches the hearts of many listeners today.

As the soprano voice delves ever deeper into the richness of the music, interviewees tell how the Four Last Songs have brought calm and beauty at key moments in their lives.

Contributors
Alan Yentob
Michael Kennedy
Gillian Weir
Margaret Nelson
Jamie Nichols
Gabe Meline

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in 2009.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 27 Jan 2021 00:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra

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You've Got a FriendSeries 8

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Music Played

  • Jessye Norman

    Fruhling (Hesse) Four Last Songs

    • Gewandhausorchesterb Leipzig.
    • RICHARD STRAUSS VIER LETZTE LIEDER.

  • Jessye Norman

    September (Hesse) Four Last Songs)

    • Kurt Masur;.
    • GEWANDHAUSORCHESTERB LEIPZIG.

  • Jessye Norman

    Beim Schlafengehen (Hesse)

    • Kurt Masur;.
    • GEWANDHAUSORCHESTERB LEIPZIG.

  • Jessye Norman

    Im Abendrot (Eichendorff)

    • Kurt Masur;.
    • GEWANDHAUSORCHESTERB LEIPZIG.

Credit

Composer Richard Strauss

Broadcasts

  • Tue 29 Sep 2009 13:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sat 3 Oct 2009 15:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 10 Jun 2016 18:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Sat 11 Jun 2016 00:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 26 Jan 2021 18:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 27 Jan 2021 00:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra

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Podcast

  • Soul Music

    Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact