Richard Strauss 1864-1949

The eminent German composer/conductor is best known for his operas and tone poems. Before 1900 and his marriage to soprano Pauline de Ahna, he held two conducting posts. His wife encouraged his composing and he wrote the tone poems Till Eulenspiegel, Thus Spake Zarathustra, Don Quixote and Ein Heldenleben.

After 1900, Strauss concentrated on operas including the cynical Feuersnot, the more advanced Salome and the powerful Elektra. His crowning glory, Der Rosenkavalier brought him great fortunes. Intending to devote the rest of his life to composition, Strauss was thwarted by the loss of his fortune invested in London, at the age of 50. His later compositions included the opera Capriccio and Four Last Songs