Biography and Chief Works of 

Richard Strauss  

1864.

Born in Munich, Bavaria.  Son of a horn player.  Began to compose in classical style in early youth.

1882.

Entered Munich University, but left a year later to devote himself to music.  Composed in style of Brahms.  

1885.

Assistant music director at Meiningen.  Became converted to style of Berlioz, Liszt and Wagner.

1886.

Assistant conductor of Munich opera.  Published some songs, and violin sonata.

1889.

Assistant conductor at Weimar.  Symphonic poem 'Don Juan' performed there.

1890.

'Death and the Transfiguration'.  Works causing controversy.  

1894.

Married Weimar opera singer.  

1895.

Appointed conductor of Philharmonic concerts in Berlin.

'Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks'.  Began conducting tours all over Europe.

1897.

'Don Quixote'.  Conducted in London.

1898.

'Ein Heldenleben'.  Appointed conductor of Royal Opera House in Berlin.  

1903.

Strauss festival in London.

1905.

Opera 'Salome' caused even more controversy.

1909.

Operas 'Elektra' and 'Der Rosenkavier'.

1912.

Opera 'Ariadne auf Naxos'.

Continued to compose operas, choral and orchestral works, and songs, but his later works are performed much more rarely than his earlier ones.  The second horn concerto and the oboe concerto are two of his best later works.

1949.

Died in Garmisch, Bavaria.  

Early symphonic poems caused great controversy, but have now been accepted into the repertoire.  

Strauss refused to recognise a distinction between abstract and programme music.  He believed that all good music is expressive: it can express states of mind and arouse similar emotions in the hearer.

He used a very large orchestra and was a master of orchestration. using solo instruments most felicitously to represent people and characteristics.  

His operas are extraordinarily varied.  'Salome' and 'Elektra' express the extremes of passionate excitement, while 'Der Rosenkavalier' is a Viennese musical comedy with a Mozartian turn of melody.  But all show great powers of characterization, and make use of Leitmotiv.

Symphonic poems: 'Don Juan'; 'Death and the Transfiguration'; 'Zarathustra'; ‘Don Quixote’; ‘Ein Heldenleben’; etc.

Concertos:

2 for horns; 1 for oboe; 1 for violin.

Sonata for violin and piano, and other chamber works.

A large number of German Lieder, all of which are very expressive, and some, such as ‘Morning’ and ‘Serenade’ very beautiful.

15 operas, including ‘Salome’; ‘Elektra’; ‘Der Rosenkavalier’; 'Ariadne auf Naxos'.