On Tour in Vienna

The Concert

Two portraits from a magician of orchestral colour, Richard Strauss – plus a young Mozart dances on the violin.

The Music

Richard Strauss’ amazing ability to tell a story in music is on display in this concert. Till Eulenspiegel is a prankster who comes to sticky end (Strauss goes to town when Till’s exploits finally catch up with him). And in Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life), Strauss appears to be the hero of his own story, with quotations from his other works scattered throughout the score.

Mozart not only composed his Violin Concerto No 5 at the age of only 19, but it was the fifth he had written within nine months. It travels from elegant start to graceful slow movement, with some remarkable instrumental effects in the finale.

The Performers

Lisa Batiashvili is the perfect partner for Mozart’s elegant Concerto, performing as part of her LSO Artist Portrait series, while Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO bring out every twist and turn in Strauss’ stories.