Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
March 23, 2018

Lass, o Welt, o lass mich sein! So rang out Wolf’s Verborgenheit to a silent room. Devised as part of a tribute program to the originally scheduled artist, Anne Sofie von Otter and her late husband, tenor Stuart Skelton and Donald Runnicles offered the audience 20 minutes of valedictory songs by Wolf, Strauss and Lizst.

Donald Runnicles. Photo © Robert Catto

Throughout the recital, Skelton brought a technical assurance, linguistic authority and fine dynamic control to proceedings. Finely shaded, the opening Wolf selection was appropriately introspective, with careful attention given to the climax on ‘Wonniglich’ (‘blissfully’) and the retreat of ‘in meiner Brust’ (‘in meiner brust’). Though Skelton’s delivery felt more in the operatic mode than perhaps in the lieder, his unfailing connection to the nuances of each text allayed any misgivings an audience member may have. Meanwhile, Runnicles offered consummate support, his sustained legato playing understated but consistently affecting.

Strauss’ Ruhe, meine Seele came alive with Skelton’s precise attacks and his fine lower register, complemented by Runnicles’ careful weighing of the song’s dark harmonies. A balance between the piece’s cautious calm and the imploring sentiment of...