Performer: Christian Oldenburg

Jürgen Flimm bowed out of his role as Intendant of the Berlin State Opera with the German premiere of Salvatore Sciarrino's Ti vedo, ti sento, mi perdo.

The work takes its inspiration from the life of the little known Italian composer Alessandro Stradella who ended his life stabbed by killers sent by the husbands of his innumerable mistresses.

Strauss' 'conversation piece' of an opera is given a warmly sympathetic production with the musical rewards coming as much from the pit as the stage.