Richard Georg Strauss

Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer and conductor who was considered as one of the leading figures of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He was influenced by Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt, and developed a distinctive style of orchestration, harmony, and musical drama. He composed several symphonic poems, such as Don Juan, Death and Transfiguration, Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, Also sprach Zarathustra, Don Quixote, Ein Heldenleben, Symphonia Domestica, and An Alpine Symphony. He also wrote 15 operas, some of which are regarded as masterpieces of the genre, such as Salome, Elektra, Der Rosenkavalier, Ariadne auf Naxos, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Die ägyptische Helena, Arabella, Daphne, Die Liebe der Danae, and Capriccio. His other works include two symphonies, concertos for violin, horn, and oboe, chamber music, lieder (especially the Four Last Songs), and ballet music. Strauss was born in Munich in 1864 to a musical family. His father was a prominent horn player and his mother was from a wealthy brewery dynasty. He showed remarkable musical talent from an early age and composed his first piece at the age of six. He received his musical education from his father and from private tutors. He also studied philosophy and art history at the University of Munich for a brief period. He began his career as a conductor in 1885 and worked with various orchestras and opera houses in Germany and abroad. He became famous for his interpretations of the works of Mozart, Wagner, Liszt, and his own compositions. He married soprano Pauline de Ahna in 1894 and they had one son, Franz. They lived in a villa in Garmisch-Partenkirchen that Strauss built with the royalties from his operas. Strauss faced many challenges and controversies during his life. His opera Salome was banned in several countries for its eroticism and violence. His opera Elektra was criticized for its dissonance and expressionism. His collaboration with librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal ended with the latter's death in 1929. His relationship with the Nazi regime was complex and ambiguous. He accepted some official positions from the Nazis but also tried to protect his Jewish friends and relatives. He was accused of being a traitor by both sides after the war. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by a denazification tribunal in 1948. He died in 1949 at the age of 85 from kidney failure. He was buried in Garmisch-Partenkirchen next to his wife. Strauss is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. His works have influenced many composers such as Gustav Mahler, Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky, Benjamin Britten, Leonard Bernstein, John Williams, and Hans Zimmer. His works are frequently performed and recorded by leading orchestras, conductors, singers, and instrumentalists. His legacy is celebrated by various festivals, awards, institutions, and monuments dedicated to his memory.