Rückert Lieder

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The Music Mahler’s Rückert Lieder were written primarily in the summer of 1901, following a life-threatening collapse. He was drawn to the Persian-inspired poetry of Friedrich Rückert, and seemed to find an autobiographical thread in these texts: Rückert implores his reader not to look at his poems until they are finished, and Mahler loathed anyone overhearing his work in progress; ‘Um Mitternacht’ echoes his own close encounter with death; and of ‘Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen’ he wrote that ‘it is my very self’. Alongside these extraordinary songs, we hear songs by Richard Strauss, including his most famous song, ‘Morgen’, and a selection of spirituals.

The Artists Our second BBC Cardiff Singer of the World winner today! (See also Event 59) Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha is garnering acclaim wherever she sings, and has been described as ‘a voice-in-a-million sort of singer’ (The Times). Simon Lepper (see also Event 39) performs alongside many of today’s best-known singers.

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