Written after the triumphs of tone poems Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegel and Also sprach Zarathrustra, Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) scaled new heights of grandiosity and complexity. Although Strauss denied it, Ein Heldenleben is often interpreted as an autobiographical portrait of the composer himself, who reportedly believed his own life to be no less interesting than that of Napoleon. With over 30 quotations from his previous works, Ein Heldenleben is a spectacular journey to the heart of Strauss. This concert brings together the MSO, Jaime Martin and superb young talents from the Australian National Academy of Music.