The southern warmth that radiates from
Wo die Zitronen blühn (‘Where the Lemon Trees Blossom’) reflects the fact that Strauss wrote it for a concert tour of Italy in 1874. He first conducted it in Milan under the title
Bella Italia (‘Beautiful Italy’). Its ultimate title comes from Mignon’s song from Goethe’s
Wilhelm Meister – ‘Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn?’.
from notes by Andrew Lamb © 2000
