Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene

For almost two years, the pandemic put a halt to our daily lives, with many seeking solace in the outdoors, rediscovering a love of the natural world. Inspired by the countryside around her Virginia home, Renée Fleming sets off on her own exploration of human experience through nature, via songs by 19th-century composers Grieg, Fauré, Liszt, and Hahn. Hahn’s “L’heure exquise” expresses a couple’s wonderment at the sight of the moon, while Grieg intertwines feelings of love with the promise of spring. Three beautiful yet alarming songs by modern composing talents Nico Muhly, Kevin Puts, and Caroline Shaw add a modern perspective, reflecting on the fragility of Earth in the face of human activity. Fleming’s rich, sumptuous voice brings tenderness and drama to this absorbing programme, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin a versatile and sensitive pianist.