Richard Strauss

Date of Birth: June 11, 1864

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: September 8, 1949

Biography

Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer, conductor, pianist, and violinist, born on June 11, 1864, in Munich, Germany. Renowned for his contributions to late-Romantic and early modernist music, Strauss was a pivotal figure in the transition between the 19th and 20th centuries. His most famous works include the tone poems “Also sprach Zarathustra,” “Don Juan,” and “Death and Transfiguration,” as well as operas like “Der Rosenkavalier” and “Salome.” Strauss’s father, Franz Strauss, was a principal horn player at the Bavarian Court Opera, which greatly influenced his early musical education. Richard’s career spanned over seven decades, during which he became one of the most prominent composers of his time. He passed away on September 8, 1949, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

5 Interesting Facts about Richard Strauss

1. Richard Strauss’s tone poem “Also sprach Zarathustra” was famously used in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

2. Strauss’s opera “Salome” caused a scandal at its premiere in 1905 due to its controversial subject matter and explicit music.

3. He was appointed as the co-director of the Vienna State Opera in 1919, a position he held until 1924.

4. Strauss was a proficient conductor and directed many of his own works as well as those of other composers.

5. Despite the political turmoil in Europe during his lifetime, Strauss managed to maintain a prolific output and navigated the complexities of working under the Nazi regime.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Richard Strauss

1. “The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, but it is the most difficult to play.”

2. “I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer.”

3. “Never look encouragingly at the brass, except with a short glance to give an important cue.”

4. “I write as the birds sing, because I must, and usually what I write is as ephemeral as their songs, though sometimes a fragment may endure.”

5. “The most perfect expression of human behavior is a string quartet.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While exact figures from historical records are hard to determine, Richard Strauss was considered one of the wealthier composers of his time due to his successful operas and tone poems. His highest net worth is estimated to have been around $5 million in today’s dollars.

Children

Richard Strauss had two children with his wife, Pauline de Ahna. Their son, Franz Strauss, was born in 1897 and became a conductor. They also had a daughter named Alice, though less is known about her.