About the piece:

Written in 1948 at the age of 84, Strauss’s Four Last Songs concluded a career of astonishing length, diversity, and productivity. Framed by the highs and lows of the twentieth century, from the rise of modernism through the roar of urbanisation and the ruin of Nazism, Strauss’s Songs are both a wistful meditation on the composer’s own impending death and a nostalgic tribute to worlds gone by. Soaring soprano lines are coloured by orchestral accompaniments both full-bodied and intricate, while textual quotations and personal symbolisms connect intimately the personal with the worldly.

About Melbourne Symphony Orchestra:

Established in 1906, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is Australia’s pre-eminent orchestra and a cornerstone of Victoria’s rich, cultural heritage.
Each year, the MSO engages with more than 5 million people, presenting in excess of 180 public events across live performances, TV, radio and online broadcasts, and via its online concert hall, MSO.LIVE, with audiences in 56 countries.  
With a reputation for excellence, versatility and innovation, the MSO works with culturally diverse and First Nations leaders to build community and deliver music to people across Melbourne, the state of Victoria and around the world. 

In 2024, the MSO’s Chief Conductor Jaime Martín continues an exciting new phase in the Orchestra’s history. Maestro Martín joins an Artistic Family that includes Principal Guest Conductor Xian Zhang, Principal Conductor in Residence Benjamin Northey, Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis CBE, Soloist in Residence Siobhann Stagg, Composer in Residence Mary Finsterer, Cybec Young Composer in Residence Melissa Douglas, and Young Artist in Association Christian Li.
The MSO regularly attracts exceptional artists from across the globe including Chinese pianist Lang Lang, German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, American soprano Renée Fleming and, in 2022, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason (UK), Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son, tenor Kang Wang and conductor Vasily Petrenko.
Committed to shaping and serving the city it inhabits, the MSO reaches beyond the customary classical audience. Recent contemporary collaborations include performances with Kate Ceberano, Jazz and Lincoln Centre Orchestra, The Bamboos, Vera Blue, Dannii Minogue, Birds of Tokyo, and the World premiere of The Man From Snowy River in Concert.

The first Australian orchestra to perform overseas (1965) and the first to debut at Carnegie Hall (1970), the MSO has a proud history of international touring and has established firm roots through regular engagement in China, Indonesia and Singapore. The MSO boasts close ties with some of the world’s finest orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing.  
As an active ambassador for the arts, the MSO campaigns for the rights of all people to gain access to our music. Presenting carefully curated learning programs, a regional touring schedule, accessible concerts and free community events, the MSO provides opportunities for music lovers to be involved with the Orchestra, no matter their age or location.