The Richard Strauss Page

Welcome to The Richard Strauss Page! This page has been designed to provide links to numerous sources on the Internet related to the life and works of Richard Strauss. I hope you find here what you are looking for. (Note: links with asterisks -- ** -- may be short-lived.)

Main page last modified: 2 December 2002 (see the general information page for more information)

NEW!: I have put together a Frequently Asked Questions page to address the most common questions that visitors have asked. While you are welcome to e-mail me, please check to see that the question hasn't been addressed in the FAQ. Thanks.

Also NEW!: I have created a Message Board to allow visitors to post questions or comments for others to read and respond to. This will replace the Recommended Recordings page I never kept up with, and allow groups to post notices of upcoming performances of Strauss works. Check it out!

From the Classical Net Web site: A detailed Biography w/recommended recordings (discusses musical influences).
From www.richard-strauss.com: A Biography/Chronology (a year-by-year review of key events).
From the Arizona Opera Web site: an extensive Biography, including quotes and more background information.
From Dr. Steven Kreinberg's Web page at Temple University: An Overview, presented in a series of PowerPoint slides.
From the Opera World Web page: Biography, with a brief commentary on Strauss's development as a composer.
From the New York City Opera Web site: another Biography, with more emphasis on opera.
From the Chevron Texaco Opera Information Center: Biography, also emphasizing opera. **
David E. Coy has graciously permitted me to host his Biography (which discusses Nazism and Strauss), as he has modified his site and no longer maintains music-related information.
From the Opera World Web page: Biography, with brief coverage of his wife, Paulina, and his days in Nazi Germany.
From The Classical Music Pages by Matt Boynick: a Biography -- excerpted from Grove's.
From The Timid Soul's Guide to Classical Music: an Overview with recommended recordings.

From www.richard-strauss.com: a complete listing of the Works of Richard Strauss (both chronological and by type).
From Jared Weinberger's Web site: Works of Richard Strauss, with Trenner numbers.
From the Opera Glass Web site: a List of Operas, with dates of Premiere.

From the eConcertBand.com Web site: an overview and discography of Strauss's works for wind ensemble.
From the American Symphony Orchestra Web site: Macbeth: Overview
From the American Symphony Orchestra Web site: Also Sprach Zarathustra: Overview/Discussion
From the American Symphony Orchestra Web site: Symphonia Domestica: Overview
From the To The World's Oboists Web site (an on-line archive of the publication of the same name by the International Double Reed Society): an article and interview regarding the Oboe Concerto by Strauss.

From The Lied and Song Texts Page: Strauss Lieder Texts
From James Pritchett's Web site: Two Melodramas (works for piano and actor): Review, discussion
Someone (who wishes to remain anonymous) finally gave me a copyright-free version of the English text to all Four Last Songs! Thanks!

From the American Symphony Orchestra Web site (written by Strauss scholar Bryan Gilliam): an article exploring the Strauss/Hugo von Hofmannsthal relationship (Strauss's primary and greatest librettist).
From the Arizona Opera Web site: Salome: Synopsis
From the New York City Opera Web site: Salome: Synopsis
From Barry Clark's Reviews page: Salome: Comments and Overview
From The Victorian Web: Salome and Oscar Wilde (a brief article).
From the Opera World Web page: Salome: Comments and Overview, with a discussion on the development of the Salome character.
From the www.richard-strauss.com Web site: Electra: Libretto (Characters/Orchestration/Synopsis)
From the Metropolitan Opera Web page: Elektra: Synopsis
From the Opera Glass Web site: Elektra: Libretto (in German)
From the Opera Glass Web site: Elektra: 'Urtext' (in German, comparison of libretto and dramatic source)
From the Opera Education International Web site: Elektra: Comments **
From the Chevron Texaco Opera Information Center: Der Rosenkavalier: Study Guide (extensive) **
From the Metropolitan Opera Web page: Der Rosenkavalier: Synopsis
From the American Symphony Orchestra Web site: an article on the reconstructed silent film of Der Rosenkavalier (with Strauss's revised score for full orchestra)
From the Chevron Texaco Opera Information Center: Ariadne Auf Naxos: Study Guide **
From the Metropolitan Opera Web page: Ariadne Auf Naxos: Synopsis
From the Arizona Opera Web site: Ariadne Auf Naxos: Synopsis
From the Metropolitan Opera Web page: Die Frau ohne Schatten: Synopsis
From the American Symphony Orchestra Web site: Die ägyptische Helena: Overview/Discussion
From the Metropolitan Opera Web page: Arabella: Synopsis
From Barry Clark's Reviews page: Arabella: Comments and Overview
From the Opera World Web page: Arabella: Overview, with discussion of the Strauss-Hofmannsthal collaboration.
From the American Symphony Orchestra Web site: Die Liebe der Danae: Overview
From the Metropolitan Opera Web page: Capriccio: Synopsis
From the OPERA America Season Schedule of Performances: You can review the schedules of many opera companies from around the world, or search for performances of specific works.
From the Aria Database: a searchable list of arias from Strauss operas (as well as for other composers). Has publication, libretto and performance info for each listed aria.

Strauss's main occupation, to begin with, was as a conductor. By the time recording technology came around, he was regarded as both a preeminent composer and conductor. Here's an article from Peter Gutmann's Classical Notes Web site on Strauss's recordings as a conductor of other composers' music.
From the If You Like site (by the Canterbury Public Library in New Zealand): If You Like Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs..., then this page has some other works to recommend to you.
Glenn Gould, the brilliant and iconoclastic Canadian pianist, viewed Richard Strauss as a modern-day Mozart. You can read a condensed version of Gould's own words about Strauss here.
From Fred Flaxman's Compact Discoveries Web site: 'Richard Strauss, Homebreaker' -- a commentary piece about the author's conflicts with his wife over the music of Richard Strauss.

Still growing: www.richard-strauss.com. They're expanding their information quite nicely. If you have 'official' questions regarding Richard Strauss, they are the ones to talk to.
Historical Columns/Articles:
- The American Symphony Orchestra Web site has an interesting article on Strauss's early days as a conductor.
- From the Opera World Web page: an article on the furor surrounding the American premiere of Salome in 1907.
Information on Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Strauss's primary and greatest librettist:
- From the Pegasos literature Web Site: Biography/Works List
- From the Chevron Texaco Opera Information Center: Brief Biography **
Books, Recordings, Sheet Music, Images, etc.:
- If you're looking for a book on Richard Strauss, check out my Bibliography/Review page -- to be updated very soon.
- If you need to do some serious research on Strauss, here's a list of 400+ books as listed in the Library of Congress on Strauss.
- Instead of the rather static Recommended Recordings page I used to host, why not checkout the new Message Board?
- From Jared Weinberger's Web site: his Richard Strauss Operas on CD Discography.
- From time to time, I receive e-mail requests for information on certain Strauss pieces. Up 'till now, I haven't had much luck with these inquiries. I finally found a good on-line site for sheet music -- Sheet Music Plus. Here is their listing of Richard Strauss works. (Note: I have registered as an 'affiliate' with Sheet Music Plus, but you are certainly not required to use my ID if you choose to purchase something.)
- Looking for audio files or pictures? Check out the Multimedia page.
Richard Strauss Items (Collectables, etc.):
- An artist (Brian Rutenberg) created a set of four paintings inspired by the titles from Strauss's Four Last Songs (and impressions from Glenn Gould).
- Ever wanted to own a silver coin with Strauss's image on it? Well, now you can. Visit the Austrian Mint's Web site to see for yourself.
Subjects Related to Strauss, or Related to Strauss's Works:
- From The Horn Player's Resources Pages Web site: Biography of Franz Strauss, Richard's father and an eminent horn virtuoso.
- From the Horn Player's FAQ Web site: a list of pieces with great Horn parts -- note the large proportion of Strauss works...
- From the Contrabass Mania Web site: The Heckelphone Page. Strauss used them in Salome, Elektra and Der Alpensymphonie.
- Regarding Strauss's tone poem Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks -- here's a site dedicated to the merry prankster of the title.
- Thus Spake Zarathustra -- Nietzche's philosophical treatise (and the literary inspiration for Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra): from Paul Brian's Web site (a professor at Washington State University), a Study Guide.
- Internet Movie Database -- Richard Strauss. Lists all of the films that have used Strauss' music (and allows you to submit films not listed).
Humor/Odd Connections:
- Here's an interesting/humorous page: 'The Origin of Music', Told Using the Music of Richard Strauss.
- I'm not entirely sure about this one: a link claiming Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra as a tribute to Zoroastrianism?

At this point, I used to list an extensive set of Classical Music links. However, I have realized that I can't keep up with all the new developments in 'general' music sites. So, I've dropped all the other links and will now only list Classical Music Links from Yahoo!, since they seem to stay on top of them. (If they don't, one of the sites linked most likely will.)

This page maintained (in a manner of speaking) by David Meek -- click on my name to send me e-mail. (Are you sure the question isn't covered in the FAQ?)

This page last updated: 2 Dec 2002