Strauss Festival: An Alpine Symphony

ABOUT THIS CONCERT

Envision flower-filled meadows, sparkling glaciers, and a breathtaking view from the summit when Music Director Juraj Valčuha leads one of the natural wonders of the music world, Strauss’s An Alpine Symphony. A monumental subject like the Alps can only be expressed through equally mighty orchestral forces, and a staggering 117 musicians will fill Jones Hall. It’s hard to imagine any music more stunningly beautiful than Strauss’s Four Last Songs, especially when performed by one of the world’s most in-demand operatic sopranos, Rachel Willis-Sørensen.

RUN TIME: 1 hour, 40 minutes

What Critics are Saying

“Rachel Willis-Sørensen has without a doubt one of the most impressive voices in the opera world.”
—Le Monde

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PROGRAM

R. STRAUSS Symphonic Interlude: Träumerei am Kamin from Intermezzo
R. STRAUSS Four Last Songs
R. STRAUSS An Alpine Symphony

ARTISTS

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Conductor Juraj Valčuha is recognized for his effortless expressiveness and depth of musicianship. With sharp baton technique and natural stage presence, the impressive ease of his interpretations translate even the most complex scores into immersive experiences. His profound understanding of composer and score, taste, and naturally elegant style make him one of the most sought-after conductors of his generation.

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American soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen is known for her diverse repertoire ranging from Mozart to Wagner. A regular guest at the leading opera houses around the world, Le Monde enthused, “…the American soprano has without a doubt one of the most impressive voices in the opera world. The timbre, of marmoreal beauty, is striking, the projection telluric…” In 2021, Rachel signed a multi-record deal with Sony Classical. Her debut album was released in April 2022, and her second CD, Strauss: Vier Letzte Lieder, came out in March 2023.

Rachel opened the 2023-24 Season with a return to the Grand Théâtre de Genève to perform the role of Elisabeth (Don Carlos), which she debuted in Chicago last year. This season founds her performing two roles in two Verdi operas at the Wiener Staatsoper; her first engagement in Vienna included a return to the role of Desdemona (Otello) followed by Elena (I Vespri Siciliani). Also in the winter, she made her first role debut of the season, as Antonia (Les Contes d’Hoffmann) at Opéra national de Paris, also marking her house debut. She performed the role of Elsa (Lohengrin) and Desdemona (Otello) at the Bayerische Staatsoper, and made her Hong Kong debut in Ariadne auf Naxos as part of the 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival with the Bayerische Staatsoper. In the spring, she returned to LA Opera as Violetta in La Traviata. She then makes a return to Santa Fe Opera to perform the role of the Marschallin in Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier. On the concert stage, she performed Mahler’s 8th Symphony at the Bayerische Staatsoper, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the Wiener Konzerthaus, as well as a debut recital at Carnegie Hall in April. Rachel performs R. Strauss’s Four Last Songs with Houston Symphony as part of its Strauss Festival under the baton of Maestro Juraj Valčuha.

She holds both bachelor and master of music degrees from Brigham Young University and is an alumna of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. An active presence on social media, she can be found on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @rachewillissorensen and on X under @RWSing.

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