Simon O'Neill Photo: Screenshot NZSO/Latitude Creative
- Allerseelen Op 10 No 8 (orch. Robert Heger)
- Ruhe, meine Seele Op 27 No 1 (orch. Richard Strauss)
- Cäcilie Op 27 No 2 (orch. Richard Strauss)
- Heimliche Aufforderung Op 27 No 3 (orch. Robert Heger)
- Morgen Op 27 No 4 (orch. Richard Strauss)
- Zueignung Op 10 No 1 (orch. Robert Heger)
Simon O'Neill begins and ends this selection with two of Richard Strauss's early songs, from his Opus 10.
Allerseelen (All Souls’ Day) describes a lover entreating another to talk of their past love… with a hint that one of the pair might be dead.
Zueignung (Dedication) is similarly bittersweet, with the singer intoning “Liebe macht die Herzen krank” (Love makes the heart sick).
The four songs of Opus 27 were inspired by Strauss's love for his wife, the soprano Pauline de Ahna, and were given to her on their wedding day.
Recorded 6 August 2020, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Producer: David McCaw
Engineer: Darryl Stack
