The life and music of Richard Strauss (1864-1949) span what was arguably the most turbulent period in human history encompassing the Franco-Prussian War the unification of Germany and two world wars. He was one of the very last composers to have started his career in service to the old European aristocracy but near the end of his life the continent lay in shambles and he faced financial ruin even as he remained Germany's greatest living composer.ÞVirtually from the day they were written Strauss's tone poems from the late nineteenth century ä works such as ÊDon JuanÊ ÊTill EulenspiegelÊ ÊAlso Sprach ZarathustraÊ and ÊDeath and TransfigurationÊ ä have been repertory standards. So have the operas ÊSalomeÊ ÊElektraÊ and ÊDer RosenkavalierÊ. And yet a tremendous quantity of very good music both early and late has only recently come to the attention of musicians and music lovers alike.ÞThis owner's manual accompanied by a full-length CD surveys all the major works with orchestra: symphonies concertos tone poems operas ballets suites and songs. Many of them will be new even to listeners familiar with the popular pieces part of a vast legacy of immaculately crafted beautiful music that deserves to be rediscovered and treasured.
