Admin

Edinburgh International Festival

Orchestra

Philharmonia Orchestra

Conductor

Andrew Davis

Singer

Soprano

Malin Byström

The Countess

Baritone

Bo Skovhus

The Count

Tenor

Sebastian Kohlhepp

Flamand

Joshua Hopkins

Olivier

Bass

Peter Rose

La Roche

Contralto

Sarah Connolly

Clairon

Emily Birsan

An Italian singer

John Irvin

Reinhard Hagen

The Major-Domo

German

Closing Concert: Capriccio

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

Usher Hall

Closing Concert: Capriccio: Capriccio Strauss

Public

Capriccio

Sushant Karmakar

English

Approved

Which is the greater, music or poetry? The arts-loving Countess Madeleine struggles to find the answer – and to choose between her two suitors, the tender composer Flamand and the fiery poet Olivier.

Written at the height of the Second World War, Richard Strauss’s final opera Capriccio pays tribute to many of the composer’s operatic predecessors. Notable for its wit and dynamism, highlights include the soulful opening String Sextet and the lyrical closing monologue, in which Countess Madeleine meditates on the inseparability of music and poetry.

World-renowned British conductor and International Festival regular Sir Andrew Davis made his operatic debut with Capriccio. In his 80th birthday year, he returns to this magnificent work with a superb cast led by Malin Byström – a much admired Salome at the 2022 Festival – in the lead role as Countess Madeleine.

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Ensemble