“Shakespeare worked within me a revolution that altered my very being”, wrote Berlioz. And in this he is not alone! From Verdi to Bellini, from Strauss to Korngold, from Gounod to Chausson or Paul Puget, no matter how disparate their language and styles, composers found an inexhaustible source of inspiration in the poetry and theatre of the Bard of Avon. Bewitched forests from the Midsummer Night’s Dream, ardent and youthful expression of love in Romeo and Juliet, the green-eyed monster of jealousy in Othello: Ophelia, Juliet, Desdemona will each in turn be brought to life  by the voice and presence of the young Basque soprano Ainhoa Zuazua Rubira. A thrilling programme in which to discover a truly “dramatic” soprano!

Ainhoa Zuazua Rubira soprano
Iñaki Encina Oyón piano

Roger Quilter (1877-1953)
Three Shakespeare Songs, Op. 6
Come away, death
O mistress mine
Blow, blow, thou winter wind

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Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957)
Three Shakespeare Songs, Op.31
Desdemona's song
Under the greenwood tree
When birds do sing

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Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Drei Lieder der Ophelia, Op.67
Wie erkenn' ich mein Treulieb
Guten Morgen, 's ist St.Valentinstag
Sie trugen ihn auf der Bahre bloss

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Ernest Chausson (1855-1899)
Deux mélodies, poésie de William Shakespeare (René Bouchon)
Chanson d'amour
Chanson d'Ophélie

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Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
La mort d'Ophélie (Ballade imitée de Shakespeare)

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Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Aria de Desdemona (Otello)

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Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
Aria de Giulietta (I Capuleti et Montecchi)

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Charles Gounod (1818-1893)
Air de Juliette (Roméo et Juliette)

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Paul Puget (1620-1694)
Air de Héro (Béatrice et Bénédicte)