Richard Strauss - Songs & A Hero's Life

Celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Çesk Zadeja’s with Skanderbeg, Strauss’ Four Last Songs, and the heroic Ein Heldenleben. The WCSO season finale celebrates the 100th anniversary of Albanian composer Çesk Zadeja with his stirring Cavalry from the film Scanderbeg, bringing the legendary Albanian hero to life through bold orchestral music. Soprano Melanie Krueger* then joins the orchestra for Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs, a deeply expressive and lyrical work reflecting on beauty, life, and farewell. The program concludes with Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, a grand and dramatic orchestral portrait of a hero, filled with sweeping melodies, rich orchestration, and powerful contrasts. Program: Çesk Zadeja: Cavalry from Scanderbeg Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs* Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 The orchestra relies on the generosity of our audience to help offset concert and operating costs and appreciates any and all donations. To secure your place for the concert, an online payment of $25 per person can be made through Eventbrite on the following page. Walk-ins are welcome at the door subject to available capacity.