Nicholas Carter / Kian Soltani

In his inaugural concert as General Music Director of the Staatsoper Stuttgart, Nicholas Carter presents one of Richard Strauss’s most dazzling tone poems: *A Hero’s Life*. In this work, featuring a monumental cast, Strauss uses his unique sonic sensuality to depict the struggles and victories of a hero whom he undoubtedly viewed as autobiographical. The then 34-year-old confidently incorporated more than 30 self-references into his tone poem. He portrays his own persistent critics as “the hero’s adversaries.” His wife, the singer Pauline de Ahna, appears in the form of the solo violin as “the hero’s companion”, with whom the hero turns his back on the world at the end of the poem. The cello concerto by British composer Edward Elgar transports us to an entirely different realm. The solo part of this profound concerto, imbued with longing and melancholy, is performed by Kian Soltani, one of the most sought-after cellists of his generation, who is making his debut with the Stuttgart State Orchestra. It is preceded by the piece “Frontispiece” by South Korean composer Unsuk Chin, in which various elements from significant works of orchestral literature are combined into a new, fascinating musical language.

There will be an introduction 45 minutes before the concert at Silchersaal.

On Sunday
First workshop, then concert: After a playful and musical introduction, children aged between 4 and 10 years experience the second part of the symphony concert.