Julia Küßwetter: PAULINE - SONGS FOR RICHARD'S WIFE

"PAULINE" is the musical portrait of the gifted, unconventional, and unique woman in the songs of her husband, Richard Strauss.

Richard Strauss met Pauline de Ahna—a respected young singer from Ingoldstadt—when both were beginning their musical careers. Richard took his first position as a conductor in Weimar and brought Pauline with him. Additionally, he recommended her to Bayreuth, where she sang Elisabeth in "Tannhäuser."

From this shared time come the "Mädchenblumen op. 22." Pauline is largely responsible for Richard Strauss's songwriting, often interpreting her husband's songs on concert tours.

Soprano Julia Küßwetter, together with pianist Georg Schütz, passionately and stylistically secure, presents this uniquely charming homage to a combative composer's wife. This invites an appreciation for the songwriting of Richard Strauss once more.

Julia Küßwetter, Soprano
studied at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Hanns Eisler Music University in Berlin, the University of Graz, and the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich at the Bavarian Theatre Academy under Norma Sharp, Josef Loibl, Semjon Skigin, and Helmut Deutsch, graduating with distinction.
Subsequently, she received a scholarship from the German Theatre Association and was a finalist in several international competitions, including the Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition in Vienna.
She gained significant insights from masterclasses with Ruth Ziesak, Emma Kirkby, and Barbara Schlick. Following her studies, she was engaged at the Chemnitz Opera and performed in several premieres at the Munich Biennale.
Invitations to the Hamburg State Opera, the Zurich Opera, DUCTAC in Dubai, the Bad Hersfeld Festival, the International Bach Festival in Schaffhausen, and a recital in New York followed.
Julia Küßwetter collaborates with ensembles such as the Munich Philharmonic, the Munich Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Baroque Orchestra "La Banda," the Georgian Chamber Orchestra Ingolstadt, and the Southwest German Philharmonic Konstanz, under renowned conductors like Gary Bertini and David Stahl.
Engagements have taken her throughout Europe, the USA, and the Middle East. CD recordings and broadcasts by BR, MDR, and SWR document her artistic work.
She is a voice instructor at the Vocational School of the Middle Franconia District and the Kaleidos Music University in Zurich.

Georg Schütz, Piano
studied with Erich Appel at the Meistersinger Conservatory in Nuremberg, with Prof. Heinz Diehl at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich, and with Prof. Peter Hollfelder at the University of Music Würzburg, where he graduated with a master's diploma. He supplemented his piano studies with masterclasses with Vitaly Margulis, Michel Beroff, and Jürgen Uhde.
Following his studies, accompanied by numerous awards and scholarships, he began an extensive concert career as a soloist and chamber musician on a national and international level. For example, at Musica Viva Munich, Schumann Festival Düsseldorf, Max Reger Symposium Paris, Piano Night at the Gasteig Munich, Festival Ost-West Ulm.
Joint concerts and masterclasses with Prof. Ingeborg Hallstein (International Music Seminar Weimar) and Prof. Hanno Blaschke (Masterclasses Villa Marteau and Bavarian Music Academy Marktoberdorf) represent further stages of his pedagogical and artistic work.
He teaches as a lecturer for piano, song accompaniment, and chamber music at the University of Music Würzburg and the Vocational School for Music in Dinkelsbühl.
In addition to various radio productions, his discography includes several CD recordings (CPO/Bavarian Radio; Bastianello-Arte; Cavalli Records).