Richard Strauss

Short biography Richard Strauss was born in Munich in 1864, the son of Franz Strauss, a prominent horn player in the Munich Court Orchestra. He received early musical training from his father and began composing as a child, studying piano, violin, and music theory. His career spanned from the late Romantic period through the mid-20th century, during which he served as a conductor at various opera houses including Munich, Weimar, Berlin, and Vienna. He became one of Germany's most celebrated composers and conductors, continuing to compose prolifically until his death in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1949.

Historical placement Strauss belonged to the late Romantic tradition but evolved stylistically throughout his long career, initially embracing progressive harmonic language before moving toward a more conservative approach after 1910. His tone poems of the 1890s and early operas represented some of the most advanced orchestral and harmonic writing of their time, contributing significantly to the development of programmatic orchestral music and modern opera. He was particularly influential in expanding orchestral technique and in the revival of the Romantic opera tradition in the early 20th century.

Personal connections His father Franz Strauss was a renowned horn player and his first musical teacher. He collaborated extensively with librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal on six operas including Der Rosenkavalier and Elektra. He worked with conductor Hans von Bülow, who championed his early works and influenced his conducting career. Stefan Zweig served as his librettist for Die schweigsame Frau during the 1930s.

Important works
Don Juan – Tone Poem (Op. 20, 1888)
Tod und Verklärung – Tone Poem (Op. 24, 1889)
Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche – Tone Poem (Op. 28, 1895)
Also sprach Zarathustra – Tone Poem (Op. 30, 1896)
Don Quixote – Tone Poem (Op. 35, 1897)
Ein Heldenleben – Tone Poem (Op. 40, 1898)
Salome – Opera (Op. 54, 1905)
Elektra – Opera (Op. 58, 1909)
Der Rosenkavalier – Opera (Op. 59, 1911)
Vier letzte Lieder – Song Cycle (1948)