Strauss and Snowstorms: Golda Schultz Returns to Cleveland Orchestra

Golda Schultz reunites with the Cleveland Orchestra this September, bringing Strauss’s moving Four Last Songs and stories of Northeast Ohio winter survival.

Cleveland, we know how to handle ice-cold winters—and apparently, so does Golda Schultz. The world-renowned South African soprano is set to join The Cleveland Orchestra for a much-anticipated performance of Strauss’s transcendent Four Last Songs—and she’s bringing with her some wild weather tales, a heart for collaboration, and a special connection with conductor Franz Welser-Möst.

A Reunion Years in the Making

Schultz and Welser-Möst go back over a decade, exchanging creative trust instead of just pleasantries ever since Schultz sang under his baton for the very first time. That bond brings her back to Northeast Ohio—despite the region's reputation for January weather that would send most sopranos straight to Miami. The upcoming concerts, headlining Strauss’s emotionally charged Four Last Songs, will take place at the storied Mandel Concert Hall, on Thursday, September 17, and Sunday, September 20. (If you miss her this time, she’ll be gracing the stage again in January—assuming the Lake Erie snowbelt lets her through!)

Surviving Cleveland's Legendary Winters

Ask Schultz about Cleveland and she’ll regale you with the story of a winter no out-of-towner could possibly imagine. During a previous January gig here, she faced a musical curveball when two fellow soloists fell ill amid a blizzard. Making do wasn’t an option; making magic was. With flights grounded and the show on the line, Welser-Möst turned what could have been a disaster into one of the most creative—and hilarious—evenings in Cleveland classical history. Just Schultz, the chorus, the orchestra, and a conductor with nerves of steel kept the audience wrapped in music while the snow fell outside.

Surprise solo moments (due to snowed-in singers)
Audience narration by the maestro himself
Improv opera history made in Cleveland

What Makes Strauss’s Four Last Songs Such a Big Deal

Strauss’s Four Last Songs isn’t just one of classical music’s greatest works—it’s a career touchstone for sopranos, and a fitting showcase for Schultz’s breathtaking artistry. The piece meditates on themes of life’s twilight, goodbyes, and, frankly, appreciating the moment (very Cleveland, right?). For Welser-Möst, closing his season with this work—and this singer—feels personal, almost like a love letter from the maestro to his orchestra and our city.

Lush, late Romantic music
Introspective, poetic lyrics
Beloved by both musicians and fans

About Golda Schultz: From Cape Town to Cleveland

Before she was a globe-trotting opera star, Schultz started out on the violin in Cape Town and followed her curiosity all the way to Juilliard. Her path has taken her to stages like the Vienna State Opera, London’s Royal Opera House, and New York’s Met. Cleveland, though, keeps calling her back. For Schultz, every local appearance is a blend of opera excellence, personal connection—and sometimes, survival instinct.

Juilliard alum
Veteran of top opera houses worldwide
Known for both vocal brilliance and creative generosity

How to Catch This Season's Can't-Miss Performances

Don’t let the chance to see an international star in your own backyard pass by. Schultz joins the Cleveland Orchestra at Mandel Concert Hall:

Thursday, Sept. 17
Sunday, Sept. 20

Snag your tickets early—these are sure to be hot even if the weather’s not.

Why It Matters for Cleveland

Moments like these are proof that Cleveland’s arts scene punches well above its weight. World-class sopranos choose to brave our winters. Legendary conductors wrap up their seasons with heartfelt tributes. And we get to claim it all as our own. See you at Severance—scarf, mittens, and opera glasses at the ready.