Richard Strauss: Man, Musician, Enigma

by Michael Kennedy

• ISBN13: 9780521027748
• ISBN10: 0521027748
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-11-02
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book re-evaluates a figure whom the author considers to be the greatest composer of the twentieth century. Kennedy deals fully with Strauss's life as leading composer and national figure in the Third Reich, during which he was both fêted and cold-shouldered by the authorities. In putting this period into perspective he draws heavily on hitherto ignored material, including Strauss's own letters and diaries. In addition he reveals much about Strauss's long, happy but tempestuous marriage to the soprano Pauline de Ahna as well as tracing the important relationships to his librettists Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Stefan Zweig, Joseph Gregor and Clemens Krauss. Kennedy reassesses the man and the music, revealing a picture of a level-headed, practical and extremely versatile musician - a great conductor as well as a great composer.

Table of Contents

Part I. 1864-98 Youth in Munich: 1. The family

2. Wunderkind

3. Growing up

4. Meiningen

5. Third conductor

6. Dora and Weimar

7. First failure

8. Engagement

9. Pauline

10. The tone-poet

Part II. 1898-1918 The Berlin Years: 11. At the Kaiser's court

12. Hofmannsthal

13. The Ariadne crisis

14. Twentieth-century Offenbach

Part III. 1918-33 Out of Fashion: 15. Vienna

16. Intermezzo

17. Helena

18. Arabella

19. The gathering storm

Part IV. 1933-49 The Dark Years: 20. Taking Walter's place

21. The Reich chamber

22. Dismissal

23. Working with Gregor

24. Danae and Madeleine

25. After Capriccio

26. Eightieth birthday

27. Metamorphosen

28. 'I am Richard Strauss ...'

29. The exile

30. London, 1947

31. Last songs

32. Return to Garmisch.