Stéphane Degout Horizons at La Monnaie

‘To me art, and especially music, elevates us as far as possible over what is,’ declared Gabriel Fauré, whom last songs cycles L’Horizon chimérique could express better than any other, a ‘desire to nonexistent things.’ By singing them in the intimate setting of a recital, Stéphane Degout will reveal, without doubt, new aspects of his temperament. In this programme he will also present the Mörike-Lieder of Wolf, clearly imbued with Wagner’s influence, and lieder by Strauss. This is your chance to hear the French baritone – who triumphed last season in Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet and Philippe Boesmans’ Au monde – sing in German and tackle other song repertoires which were the precursors of the modernity of the 20th century. All this with the generous voice, expressive intensity and perfect technique that we have come to expect of him.