Four Last Songs is the closing evening concert of the festival at the Playhouse, centred on one of the most moving works in the classical repertoire: Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs.
Often described as “a swansong of sublime beauty” (Classic FM), the work reflects on life, love, and farewell, combining radiant orchestral colour with deeply expressive vocal writing.
Who is performing?
The concert features soprano Claire Booth, alongside Ensemble 360, whose long-standing relationship with Sheffield audiences makes them an ideal pairing for this reflective final programme.
What music will be performed?
The programme brings together richly lyrical works from the late Romantic tradition, including:
Richard Strauss – Sextet from Capriccio
Josephine Stephenson Sargen – New work
Jean Sibelius – En Saga (original septet version)
Richard Wagner – Siegfried Idyll
Strauss (arr. Ledger) – Four Last Songs
Together, these pieces create a warm, expansive programme shaped by melody, atmosphere, and emotional depth.
Why is this concert special?
As a festival finale, Four Last Songs offers a sense of culmination and reflection. Sibelius’s En Saga brings fairy-tale imagination, Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll offers intimate lyricism, and Strauss’s Four Last Songs provides a profoundly moving conclusion — music that feels both personal and universal.
The evening closes not only a concert, but a musical journey through song, storytelling, and late-Romantic expression.
Who is this event for?
This concert will appeal to:
Fans of late-Romantic and lyrical classical music
Listeners drawn to vocal masterpieces
Regular concertgoers and festival audiences
Anyone seeking a memorable evening of things to do in Sheffield
🍷Post-concert drinks Friends of Music in the Round are invited to join performers and guests for drinks after the final concert.
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