The sensuous, glittering raptures of the Rosenkavalier Suite evoke the decadence of 18th century Vienna in a dazzling array of complex waltzes.

Then delve deeper into Richard Strauss’ most personal, revealing and achingly beautiful music with his sublime Four Last Songs. These profound songs, performed by silver-voiced soprano Madeleine Pierard, sumptuously evoke a sunset portrait of a wife well loved and a life well lived.

We balance this decadence with the crystalline Symphony No. 3 from Johannes Brahms. In music that plays between light and shadow, the work takes on as its organising motto frei aber froh — free but happy.