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Top brass: resplendent Strauss from Karina Canellakis and the Wiener Symphoniker

By Mark Pullinger, 17 December 2025

Leif Ove Andsnes joins the Vienna Symphony in the Musikverein's Golden Hall for a glowing account of Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto before a terrific Tod und Verklärung.

*****

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*****

Vienna

17 Dec 2025

Resplendent Strauss from Canellakis and the Wiener Symphoniker

By Mark Pullinger

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Birmingham

Kazuki Yamada and the CBSO showcase Richard Strauss

By Robert Gainer, 10 December 2025

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra greet an old friend and say farewell to another in a thoroughly absorbing all-Strauss programme.

*****

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*****

Birmingham

10 Dec 2025

Kazuki Yamada and the CBSO showcase Richard Strauss

By Robert Gainer

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Amsterdam

Delving the depths of sorrow: Barbara Hannigan conducts the Royal Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 02 October 2025

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra puts Persian music centre stage with the Dutch premiere of Tehran-based composer Golfam Khayam's I am a tale not to be told.

*****

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*****

Amsterdam

02 Oct 2025

Barbara Hannigan conducts the Royal Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

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London

Electric! Sean Shibe premieres a new guitar concerto at the BBC Proms

By Mark Valencia, 22 July 2025

After the premiere of Mark Simpson's concerto, Anja Bihlmaier concludes her BBC Philharmonic Prom with a rousing performance of the Symphonie fantastique.

****1

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****1

London

22 Jul 2025

Sean Shibe premieres a new guitar concerto at the BBC Proms

By Mark Valencia

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London

Magical potency from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO in late Romantic music

By Chris Garlick, 08 November 2024

Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO are in their element in rich repertoire including Szymanowski, Pejačević, Wagner and Strauss.

****1

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****1

London

08 Nov 2024

Magical potency from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

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New York City

Karina Canellakis and Alice Sara Ott make memorable New York Philharmonic debuts

By Susan Stempleski, 04 April 2024

The American conductor and German-Japanese pianist shine in a mostly meditative program of Webern, Strauss, Ravel and Scriabin.

****1

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****1

New York City

04 Apr 2024

Karina Canellakis and Alice Sara Ott make memorable NY Phil debuts

By Susan Stempleski

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London

Sunday Strauss and Shostakovich from Santtu-Matias Rouvali and the Philharmonia

By Dominic Lowe, 04 February 2024

A dynamic and forceful performance of Shostakovich's Violin Concerto no. 2 is the highlight in a concert that also features an elegant little Sibelius opening and two of Strauss' tone poems.

***11

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***11

London

04 Feb 2024

Sunday Strauss and Shostakovich from Rouvali and the Philharmonia

By Dominic Lowe

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London

From life to death: Strauss frames Karina Canellakis' LPO programme

By Roy Westbrook, 25 October 2023

Richard Strauss, self-styled "first-class second-rate" composer, has been having a moment in London with several tone poems on show.

****1

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****1

London

25 Oct 2023

From life to death: Strauss frames Karina Canellakis' LPO programme

By Roy Westbrook

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London

Hannigan and LSO push all the buttons in provocative season opener

By Mark Thomas, 14 September 2023

An enticing Barbican programme from Barbara Hannigan, seeking light out of darkness in pieces spanning three different centuries, and an electrifying vocal performance by mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron.

*****

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*****

London

14 Sep 2023

Hannigan and LSO push all the buttons in provocative season opener

By Mark Thomas

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London

Polished sheen as the Boston Symphony strings impress in Strauss

By Mark Pullinger, 25 August 2023

Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony bring opulent Strauss and soft-focussed Prokofiev to the BBC Proms to kick off their European tour.

***11

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***11

London

25 Aug 2023

Polished sheen: Boston strings impress in Strauss

By Mark Pullinger

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Lenox

Depth and Assimilation: Anne-Sophie Mutter, Andris Nelsons and John Williams at Tanglewood

By Kevin Wells, 11 August 2023

With the audience increasingly familiar with John Williams' Second Violin Concerto, its architecture and emotion become much clearer than at its 2021 premiere.

****1

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****1

Lenox

11 Aug 2023

Depth and Assimilation: Mutter and Nelsons at Tanglewood

By Kevin Wells

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Pärnu

Smiles of a summer night: Paavo Järvi at the Pärnu Music Festival

By Richard Bratby, 15 July 2023

New music, old friends and supercharged Strauss from the Estonian Festival Orchestra.

****1

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****1

Pärnu

15 Jul 2023

Smiles of a summer night: Paavo Järvi at the Pärnu Music Festival

By Richard Bratby

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Zurich

A fine triple bill with the Philharmonia Zürich

By Sarah Batschelet, 22 January 2023

Under Markus Stenz, the Philharmonia Zürich orchestra give stunning performances of works by Strauss, Bartók, and Mahler in the city’s historic opera house.

****1

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****1

Zurich

22 Jan 2023

A fine triple bill with the Philharmonia Zürich

By Sarah Batschelet

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Singapore

Heralding the Lunar New Year in Singapore

By Chang Tou Liang, 20 January 2023

South Korean soprano Sumi Hwang's Mahler, Richard Strauss and Brahms from Hans Graf are musical and geographical synergy in Singapore, heralding the Lunar New Year.

****1

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****1

Singapore

20 Jan 2023

Heralding the Lunar New Year in Singapore

By Chang Tou Liang

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Manchester

Clemens Schuldt conducts The Hallé in four contrasting masterpieces

By Peter Connors, 24 November 2022

A stunning Mozart piano concerto with Angela Hewitt and a dazzling recent piece are framed by serious but uplifting orchestral works by Britten and Strauss.

****1

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****1

Manchester

24 Nov 2022

Clemens Schuldt conducts The Hallé in four contrasting masterpieces

By Peter Connors

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Hong Kong

The Vienna Philharmonic displays its sumptuous body of sound in Hong Kong

By Christopher Halls, 24 October 2022

The Vienna Philharmonic gives Hong Kong a taste of their signature Wienerklang in orchestral works by Wagner, Richard Strauss and Dvořák.

****1

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****1

Hong Kong

24 Oct 2022

The Vienna Phil displays its sumptuous body of sound in Hong Kong

By Christopher Halls

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London

Transcendent programme from the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Ryan Wigglesworth

By Roy Westbrook, 10 August 2022

The BBC Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ryan Wigglesworth were heaven-storming in Prom 33, offering celestial visions from Strauss and Holst.

****1

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****1

London

10 Aug 2022

Transcendent programme from the BBCSO and Ryan Wigglesworth

By Roy Westbrook

Belfast

Rustioni’s celestial Mahler in Belfast

By Leighton Jones, 04 February 2022

Two highly complementary works by Strauss and Mahler bring a satisfying evening of beautifully executed music-making between the Ulster Orchestra and their chief conductor.

****1

****1

Belfast

04 Feb 2022

Rustioni’s celestial Mahler in Belfast

By Leighton Jones

London

Divine Mozart and devilish Strauss from Thomas Søndergård, Julia Fischer and the LPO

By Alexander Hall, 02 February 2022

Can two concertos in one concert be too much of a good thing? Not when Julia Fischer plays Mozart. Thomas Søndergård and the LPO use Richard Strauss as a perfect foil.

****1

****1

London

02 Feb 2022

Divine Mozart and devilish Strauss from Søndergård and Fischer

By Alexander Hall

Edinburgh

Michael Schønwandt returns to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra after 39 years

By Simon Thompson, 12 November 2021

Michael Schønwandt brings style to Scheherezade and Strauss, while Kirill Gerstein plays Ravel with lashings of Gallic élan.

****1

****1

Edinburgh

12 Nov 2021

Michael Schønwandt returns to the RSNO after 39 years

By Simon Thompson

Boston

Lush Strauss and charming Mozart from Nelsons and the Boston Symphony

By Sam Jacobson, 12 October 2021

The BSO selected two sumptuous works of Strauss to contrast the joyousness of Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos.

***11

***11

Boston

12 Oct 2021

Lush Strauss and charming Mozart from Nelsons and the Boston Symphony

By Sam Jacobson

Montreal

“Engaging with death”: the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal plays Strauss and Sibelius

By Edward Sava-Segal, 24 November 2020

Alexander Shelley conducts a contemplative programme featuring Strauss' Four Last Songs and Death and Transfiguration.

****1

****1

Montreal

24 Nov 2020

“Engaging with death”: the OSM plays Strauss and Sibelius

By Edward Sava-Segal

London

The Woman without a Shadow of doubt: Karina Canellakis' fine LSO debut

By Roy Westbrook, 08 March 2020

Canellakis has the musicianship to ensure Strauss’ over-the-top moments registered high on music’s Richter scale.

****1

****1

London

08 Mar 2020

The Woman without a Shadow of doubt: Karina Canellakis' fine LSO debut

By Roy Westbrook

Hamburg

A French orchestral melange with Franck and Gabetta at the Elbphilharmonie

By Alexander Hall, 15 December 2018

On tour with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Mikko Franck and Sol Gabetta present an odd programme of mixed fare.

***11

***11

Hamburg

15 Dec 2018

French programme with Franck and Gabetta at the Elbphilharmonie

By Alexander Hall

London

Prom 68: Extraordinary music-making from Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic

By Dominic Lowe, 02 September 2018

The Berliners' second concert comprised the core repertoire for which they are famous, Beethoven and Strauss. Under the dynamic baton of their incoming Principal, Kirill Petrenko, these warhorses were made fresh again.

*****

*****

London

02 Sep 2018

Extraordinary music-making from Petrenko and the Berlin Phil

By Dominic Lowe

Barcelona

Contemplating death: two Strauss swansongs and a prankster’s end in Barcelona

By John Marten Barnard, 28 April 2018

The Gran Teatre del Liceu’s orchestra performs challenging works by Strauss under resident conductor Josep Pons.

****1

****1

Barcelona

28 Apr 2018

Two Strauss swansongs and a prankster’s end in Barcelona

By John Marten Barnard

Philadelphia

Flame writing to wild dancing: Stéphane Denève and The Philadelphia Orchestra

By Hilary Stroh, 19 April 2018

Stéphane Denève leads The Philadelphia Orchestra through transcendent Strauss and apocalyptic Ravel.

***11

***11

Philadelphia

19 Apr 2018

Flame writing to wild dancing with The Philadelphia Orchestra

By Hilary Stroh

Atlanta

Abduraimov plays a stunning Prokofiev 3 in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 08 March 2018

Stephen Mulligan again steps in to lead the Atlanta Symphony in exemplary performances.

****1

****1

Atlanta

08 Mar 2018

Abduraimov plays a stunning Prokofiev 3 in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Dublin

Spectacular Strauss from Nathalie Stutzmann and the RTÉ NSO

By Pia Maltri, 01 December 2017

Two contraltos in one room is a high concentration of contraltos; except that one of them appeared in the role of conductor.

*****

*****

Dublin

01 Dec 2017

Spectacular Strauss from the RTÉ NSO

By Pia Maltri

London

Heights of expression: Oramo, Pogostkina and the BBCSO in full-bodied season opener

By Mark Thomas, 27 September 2017

A dream programme of works by Strauss, Berg and Sibelius, matched by performances from Sakari Oramo, Alina Pogostkina and the BBC Symphony Orchestra that really hit the sweet spot.

****1

****1

London

27 Sep 2017

Heights of expression from Oramo and the BBCSO

By Mark Thomas

Lucerne

Beyond usual points of reference: an all-Strauss evening in Lucerne

By Sarah Batschelet, 12 August 2017

Conductor Riccardo Chailly launched this year's Lucerne Festival with a riveting programme of three late 19th century works by the great orchestral explorer, Richard Strauss.

*****

*****

Lucerne

12 Aug 2017

An all-Strauss evening in Lucerne

By Sarah Batschelet

London

Death be not proud: Nathalie Stutzmann and the LPO in Strauss and Mozart

By Alexander Hall, 25 March 2017

Reflections on mortality provided by the French contralto Nathalie Stutzmann conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir in two works by Richard Strauss and Mozart.

***11

***11

London

25 Mar 2017

Death be not proud: Stutzmann conducts Strauss and Mozart

By Alexander Hall

London

Shades of grey for a winter's day: the LSO, Chauhan and Grosvenor

By Alexander Hall, 26 January 2017

Two works by Brahms and an early tone poem by Strauss only partially succeed in performances by the LSO under Alpesh Chauhan and with Benjamin Grosvenor as soloist.

***11

***11

London

26 Jan 2017

Shades of grey for a winter's day

By Alexander Hall

Chicago

Behind the enigma: Donald Runnicles explores Elgar in Chicago

By Sam Jacobson, 05 May 2016

The synergy between Donald Runnicles and the CSO was abundantly clear in a program of two British works and a Strauss tone poem.

***11

***11

Chicago

05 May 2016

Donald Runnicles explores Elgar in Chicago

By Sam Jacobson

London

An embarrassment of riches: Riccardo Chailly and the Leipzig Gewandhaus

By Chris Garlick, 23 October 2015

In this last concert in the Leipzig Gewandhaus and Riccardo Chailly’s brief residency at the Barbican, all concerned were on top form.

*****

*****

London

23 Oct 2015

An embarrassment of riches

By Chris Garlick

Amsterdam

Living and Dying: The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates Richard Strauss

By Jenny Camilleri, 05 October 2014

Marc Albrecht’s tribute to Richard Strauss featured soprano Emily Magee in a poignantly elusive Four Last Songs and culminated in a stupendously played Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

05 Oct 2014

Living and Dying: Celebrating Richard Strauss

By Jenny Camilleri

Berlin

Concertgebouw Orchestra and Jansons impress with Strauss at the Berlin Festival

By David Larkin, 06 September 2014

Fine renditions of Brahms's Haydn Variations and Strauss's Death and Transfiguration and Till Eulenspiegel more than compensate for an underwhelming rendition of Rihm's Lichtes Spiel in the Concertgebouw's performance at the Berlin Festival.

****1

****1

Berlin

06 Sep 2014

Concertgebouw orchestra impresses in Strauss

By David Larkin

Amsterdam

Excellence with Kavakos and Brahms, Tradition with Jansons and Strauss

By David Pinedo, 25 August 2014

Leonidas Kavakos's technical mastery and musical sensitivity work beautifully with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to produce shimmering brilliance.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

25 Aug 2014

Excellence with Kavakos and Brahms, Tradition with Jansons and Strauss

By David Pinedo

London

BBCNOW find the connections between Richard Strauss, Mozart and Carl Nielsen

By Chris Garlick, 11 August 2014

Birthday boy Richard Strauss was celebrated again at the Proms with two early works, one an acknowledged masterpiece and the other a problem child, in an odd programme that included works by Mozart and Nielsen from the BBC NOW.

****1

****1

London

11 Aug 2014

Finding the connections: Thomas Søndergård and BBCNOW

By Chris Garlick

London

BBC SO and Christine Brewer at the Barbican

By Penny Homer, 20 December 2013

The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Christine Brewer close Wagner bicentenary celebrations at the Barbican by showing his influence on Strauss, Webern and Berg on December 20th.

****1

****1

London

20 Dec 2013

Christine Brewer at the Barbican

By Penny Homer

Morristown

New Jersey Symphony and Susanna Mälkki in Strauss, Debussy and Messiaen

By Alan Yu, 07 April 2013

My last encounter with conductor Susanna Mälkki was her debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic two and a half years ago. I was impressed with her crisp style of conducting that delivered near-seismic impact in Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra.

****1

****1

Morristown

07 Apr 2013

New Jersey Symphony and Susanna Mälkki in Strauss, Debussy and Messiaen

By Alan Yu

New York City

The Concertgebouw caress Strauss and Bruckner at Carnegie

By David Allen, 14 February 2013

Amsterdam audiences must be spoiled by hearing the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra so often. In this second concert of two at Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw again used their immaculate sound and tonal palette to lyrical effect, this time not in Bartók and Mahler, but Strauss and Bruckner.

****1

****1

New York City

14 Feb 2013

The Concertgebouw caress Strauss and Bruckner at Carnegie

By David Allen

London

Robin Ticciati and Christopher Maltman with the London Symphony Orchestra

By Capriccio, 15 March 2012

Strauss's Tod und Verklärung is the work of a young man seeking to impress with his profundity and modernity after his early success with the wildly exuberant Don Juan. It is often said that the "death" part is more convincing than the "transfiguration" part, and this is largely true - while the former comes off beautifully, the latter is far too prosaic musically for the exalted subject matter.

**111

**111

London

15 Mar 2012

Robin Ticciati and Christopher Maltman with the London Symphony Orchestra

By Capriccio

New York City

The Vienna Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall: Johann and Richard Strauss

By David Allen, 04 March 2012

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra's latest tour has included three dates at New York's Carnegie Hall: a concert of Sibelius symphonies, another of late Mozart and truncated Wagner, and this one of waltzes, polkas, and Richard Strauss.The second half, dedicated to the music of Johann Strauss II, predictably came off best.

***11

***11

New York City

04 Mar 2012

The Vienna Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall: Johann and Richard Strauss

By David Allen

London

LSO's Romantic programme draws art and life together

By Hannah Gill, 17 February 2011

In this intensely Romantic programme, the choice of music pointed to the ways in which art and life can be closely intertwined, from Wagner's Idyll to celebrate the birth of his son (also called Siegfried), to Joachim's fingerprints in the Brahms concerto or Strauss's tone poem on Death and Transfiguration.

London

17 Feb 2011

LSO's Romantic programme draws art and life together

By Hannah Gill

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Luminosidad y transfiguracion por la Sinfonica de Tenerife

By Ramón Pereira Blanco, 27 February 2026

Nuevamente, Pablo González y la Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife ofrecieron una emocionante velada dominada por la música de Richard Strauss.

****1

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****1

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

27 Feb 2026

Magnífico Strauss por la Sinfónica de Tenerife y Pablo González

By Ramón Pereira Blanco

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Paris

Joyce DiDonato rehausse le concert du National au Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

By Jean-Pierre Rousseau, 10 October 2025

Inégaux dans Strauss, Cristian Măcelaru et l'Orchestre National de France ont accompagné une Joyce DiDonato émouvante dans des lieder d'Alma et Gustav Mahler.

***11

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***11

Paris

10 Oct 2025

Joyce DiDonato rehausse le concert du National au TCE

By Jean-Pierre Rousseau

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Porto

La transfiguración sinfónica de la Casa da Música Porto: brillantes Strauss y Chaikovsky con Pusker y Reiners

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro, 21 February 2025

Júlia Pusker maravilló en el Concierto para violín de Chaikovsky mientras Benjamin Reiners supo calibrar la sonoridad de la orquesta y la estructura de las obras de manera magistral.

*****

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*****

Porto

21 Feb 2025

La transfiguración sinfónica de la Casa da Música Porto

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro

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Valencia

Gustavo Gimeno entra en el Valhalla operístico valenciano: El anillo sin palabras en Les Arts

By Daniel Martínez Babiloni, 07 February 2025

Gustavo Gimeno impuso su visión personal sobre la música de Wagner a una Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana que la domina y la lleva en su ADN.

****1

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****1

Valencia

07 Feb 2025

Gustavo Gimeno entra en el Valhalla operístico valenciano

By Daniel Martínez Babiloni

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Paris

La transfiguration XXL de Fauré par Klaus Mäkelä et l'Orchestre de Paris

By Jean-Pierre Rousseau, 06 November 2024

Programme-fleuve et effectifs pléthoriques ont livré un étonnant hommage à Gabriel Fauré, peu en accord avec le style du compositeur. Avec des moments extrêmement convaincants néanmoins.

***11

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***11

Paris

06 Nov 2024

La transfiguration XXL de Fauré par Mäkelä et l'Orchestre de Paris

By Jean-Pierre Rousseau