Myths and legends are at the fore of a program headed by charismatic mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard and conductor Fabien Gabel. Ravel’s riveting, Russian-accented song cycle Shéhérazade abounds in sensuous modal melodies and dynamic drama that are sure to leave you as spellbound as Shéhérazade’s sultan. D’Indy’s vivid Istar, derived from Babylonian myth, celebrates the goddess of love and fertility, Istar, who strips herself naked to rescue her dead lover from hell. Based on a 19th-century German fairy tale about an empress who lacks both shadow and soul, Strauss’s surging single-movement Symphonic Fantasy on Die Frau ohne Schatten showcases what he called “the best parts” of his similarly titled opera.
Concert Extras
An Inside Music Talk with Alicia Mastromonaco will be presented on stage one hour before each concert. Free to all ticketholders.