“I never truly believed in inspiration through natural beauty; in the Roman ruins I was taught otherwise, there the ideas just come flying in.” With these words Richard Strauss describes his work on his Symphonic Poem “Aus Italien” (From Italy), which besides these Roman places also depicts scenes “At the Beach at Sorrento” as well as “Neapolitan Folk Life”, setting these impressions to colorful music. In addition to this work with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester under the baton of conductor in residence of the Richard Strausstage festival in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Rémy Ballot, selected songs for orchestra and soprano were performed by German soprano Joo-Anne Bitter, who made a name for herself internationally with her acclaimed Richard Wagner interpretations.