Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben

Conductor Robin Ticciati brings all his operatic flair to a specially expanded LPO London Philharmonic Orchestra for Strauss’ magnificent tone poem. Ein Heldenleben means ‘A Hero’s Life’, and Richard Strauss was definitely having a bit of a laugh at the expense of his critics when he painted this huge, absurdly entertaining self-portrait of the artist as superhero. Make no mistake, though, it sounds incredible, and it’s just one of three extraordinary musical stories tonight. Sibelius evokes the Middle Ages, and the superb Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang (‘Inspired’ – The Strad) dances her way through Weimar Berlin in Hindemith’s sardonic Kammermusik – written (he said) to celebrate the birthday of a lion.