Strauss, Ein Heldenleben – Mahler, Rückert-Lieder

ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTRÉAL

RAFAEL PAYARE – SONYA YONCHEVA

 

RECORDED AT THE MAISON SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTRÉAL IN MARCH 2023

ALBUM RELEASED ON MARCH 15

With this recording, Rafael Payare and the OSM pursue their progress through the late Romantic German repertoire, a focal point of their concerts in Montreal and abroad as well as their recordings for Pentatone.

At first blush, these works may not seem to form an obvious pairing. This is Strauss at his most exuberant, with an immense and richly coloured musical canvas, and Mahler at his most introspective, choosing the intimacy and inwardness of Friedrich Rückert’s poems, creating an array of different atmospheres through his bare yet varied orchestration. Nevertheless, in their eminently personal and autobiographical approach, both composers offer us their careful reflection on existence and on their place in the world.

“It has been a fascinating experience to explore this repertoire with the OSM. Reconnecting with Mahler while immersing ourselves in the sound world of Strauss marks an important milestone in our musical trajectory together and continues our shared journey through the German and Austrian repertoire. It is also our first collaboration with Sonya Yoncheva, whose extraordinary voice is blessed with an endless palette of expressive nuances and colours. We are very pleased to share with you the poetic and musical world of these two towering composers.” — Rafael Payare, Music Director of the OSM