Elizabeth Watts heads for Taunton

International soprano Elizabeth Watts, winner of the Lieder Prize and Opera finalist in the Cardiff Singer of the World 2007, will sing Richard Strauss’s ‘Four Last Songs’ with OrchestraWest in Kings College Chapel, Taunton, on Sunday February 3rd. The concert starts at 6pm, and Artistic Director John Cole conducts.

The concert is a coup for Taunton’s professional symphony orchestra; following her world-class performances in both the Lieder and Opera competitions at the 2007 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition Elizabeth is understandably in huge demand at venues all over the world, and her reputation continues to grow.

Strauss's Four Last Songs rank among the most haunting music ever written. Until recently, they were seen as constituting the composer's own requiem - a farewell to existence, given loving expression by an idealised soprano voice.

The concert’s opening piece, Elgar’s Cockaigne Overture, presents a musical portrait of life in turn-of-the-century London. Jaunty and lush by turns, it remains one of his most popular works.

Rimsky Korsakov’s ‘Scheherezade’ is a musical telling of the Arabian ‘Tales of 1001 Nights’, where the composer – self-taught – combines his Russian heritage with Eastern influences to produce amazingly exciting and beautiful music. Newcomers to classical music have always found this work a great ‘entry point’, whether they are 8 or 80, and the orchestra hopes that there will be plenty of 20/20 (one full price ticket brings two people of a different generation free) ticket buyers to experience it together.

Tickets are £20, £5 for teenagers and students, under 12s free. Subscription holders have a 15% discount on full price tickets.

Tickets are available at the Brewhouse Theatre Box office and Taunton’s Tourist Information Office, or you can buy online at Orchestrawest.co.uk. Comprehensive programme notes are also available on the website.