The musician Strauss, 1864+0 1 was born in Germany in June, and 1949 died on September 8th. His major works include Don Juan, Death and Purification, etc.

Richard strauss's music appeared at the turn of two centuries, which not only described people's pain and struggle in the last century, but also described people's joy and confusion in the next century. /kloc-Romanticism in the 0/9th century and popularity in the 20th century have borne fruit in Richard strauss's music-a fragile and thin flower of art, full of sweetness and bitterness.

Chinese name: Richard strauss.

Nationality: Germany

Date of birth: June 1864 1 1.

Date of death:1September 8, 949

Occupation: musician

Masterpieces: Don Juan, Death and Purification.

life experience

Early experience

On June 1864, 1 1, a baby was born in the home of franz josef strauss, the chief horn player of the court band in Munich. He is Richard Strauss, who is famous in Germany, Austria and even the whole world. Richard strauss showed musical talent in his early years. At the age of four, he studied piano with a friend of his father, violin with his cousin at the age of eight, and composition theory with F·W· Meyer, assistant conductor of the court band at the age of eleven. Richard strauss's father's taste in music is very conservative. His musical gods are classical masters such as Mozart and Beethoven. He hates Wagner and his theory and won't let his children listen to1music works in the second half of the 9th century. Therefore, little richard's music education at home is very limited.

1874

Richard strauss finished primary school and studied in Ludovic Middle School in the city. At school, he listened to Wagner's works and watched performances by Tonhauser, Siegfried and Lohengreen. His heart was shocked by this great art, and he once wrote: "Despite my father's opposition, I stepped into this magical art world-the ring of Nibelungen, Tristan and isolde, and so on. I still remember the ecstasy and impatience when I first read the score of Tristan and isolde at the age of seventeen. " (Quote from Richard Strauss: Memoirs (1949)) It was at that time that Richard Strauss's musical style gradually took shape. His boyhood works include string quartet in A major, festival March in E major, piano sonata in B minor and several piano sketches.

1882

In winter, Richard strauss studied philosophy, aesthetics and art history at the University of Munich, but he never had the opportunity to study music systematically in the Conservatory of Music. 1883 left the university to concentrate on music creation. During his college years, his Symphony in D minor, Violin Concerto in D minor, Cello Sonata in F major and Serenade in E flat major were performed in Vienna and Dresden respectively, which were well received by the public.

1884

On his first visit to Berlin, he met the famous conductor Hans von Poirot. At that time, Biao Luo was highly respected, took a fancy to this young man, called him "the composer with the most personality since Brahms", and asked him to write a suite in B flat major for Megan's court band and personally conduct the premiere.

During this period, his works include horn concerto in F major, symphony in F minor, piano music and painting, piano string quartet in C minor, nine art songs written for Grimm's poetry collection, vocal chorus suite written according to Goethe's poem "A Wanderer's Charge Song" and so on. These works have been performed in Germany. Biao Luo affectionately called him "Richard III", which made Richard Strauss famous quickly.

1885

Richard strauss was appointed as the deputy conductor of Megan's court band, and studied conducting under the face-to-face instruction of Luo Biao. Soon after, he played his own symphony in F minor and Mozart's piano concerto in C minor (K.49 1), and he acted as a solo part. Brahms, the leader of Leipzig School of Music, commented after listening to Richard strauss's works in Main: "Music is fascinating, but many local themes are beside the point." Soon, Biao Luo resigned. The Duke of Saxony-Main wanted to appoint Richard strauss as the successor of the band leader, and at the same time wanted to reduce the number of bands. Richard strauss was deeply dissatisfied with this. He didn't accept the position and left Main. Later, he signed a contract with the Munich Opera House for three years as the third conductor.

While working in the Main Palace Band, Richard strauss forged a deep friendship with the first violinist Alexander Ritter. Ritter's wife is Wagner's niece. At the same time, Ritter is also the successor of Wagner and Liszt, and his artistic tendency has influenced Richard strauss. Ritter advised Richard strauss to give up classicism, read Wagner's literary theory, read Schopenhauer's books and take the romantic route of Berlioz, Liszt and Wagner. On Richard strauss, he mainly completed the transformation of his artistic thought. He wrote: "A new (artistic) concept must have a new (artistic) form-this is the principle of Liszt's symphonic poems, and the real factor that determines the creation is the idea of poetry-which became the guiding principle of my later symphonic poems." (Quote from Richard Strauss: (Memoirs). Richard strauss's symphonic fantasia "Italia" is the real symbol of his artistic thought transformation, which indicates that he changed from composing untitled instrumental music to composing titled music, and his musical style changed from following Mendelssohn to following Liszt. People have different views on this turning point work. Perhaps it will take some time for the public to get familiar with and adapt to this "new" Richard strauss style.

During his three years in Munich Opera House, Richard strauss rarely had the opportunity to participate in the performance of important works except conducting several operas by Mozart and Verdi. 1887, when he was a guest conductor in Leipzig, he met the Austrian composer gustav mahler, and soon became a man keen on Mahler's art. This summer, he began to write music poems such as Macbeth, Don Juan and Death and Purification. He fell in love with soprano pauline de Anna. In the next few years, he performed several famous operas with Anna (including Tristan and isolde by Wagner and Woman's Heart by Mozart-two of Richard strauss's favorite operas). 1894, they got married. The wedding gifts he gave her were four art songs (Op.27), namely "Morning", "Keshi Li", "Silence, My Soul" and "Secret Request".

1889

Later, his musical poems "Don Sulphur" and "Death and Purification" were staged one after another and achieved great success. Richard strauss is also regarded by critics as the most important German composer after Wagner's death. In the same year, he finished his work in Munich Opera House. 189 1 year, Richard strauss went to Bayrod Theatre (Bayrod Theatre is the performance place of Wagner's works, which was once a sensation and was known as "the holy land of Bayrod") as a chorus conductor, and was deeply appreciated by Wagner's widow, Kosima. 1August, 893, conducted and performed Don Hauser at the Berrod Theatre, with unprecedented pomp. In Munich, he conducted and performed such famous plays as Temptation of Harem, Woman's Heart, Don Salver, Tristan and isolde, which were also very popular. However, he had trouble rehearsing his opera Gontran. The singers refused to sing, which made Strauss miserable. In the next few years, he had to give up opera creation and specialize in music and poetry creation. Thiel Oren's pranks in Pigl (1895), Zarathustra says so (1896), Don Quixote (1897) and The Life of a Hero (1898).

1896- 1898

Richard strauss's command career reached its peak. He was the chief conductor of the Royal Opera House in Berlin. During the eight-month performance season, he conducted 765,438+0 concerts and 25 operas (including two complete performances of four plays The Ring of Nibelungen). Excavate and perform works such as Liszt's Faust in matar, and perform works such as Grieg, Mahler, sibelius and elgar in Berlin. Richard strauss's talent and reputation as a conductor can not be ignored. Together with Mahler and Weingartner, he influenced the German-Austrian music performance during 1890~ 19 10, and traveled all over Europe from time to time.

Richard strauss was not discouraged by the failure of his first opera "Gontland", and he was still exploring to write new operas. 190 1 year completed the music creation of the opera "Fire Shortage". This is a comedy based on the legend of Flanders in the middle ages. It premiered in Dresden, which was a great success and lasted for a long time. This gave Richard strauss great encouragement.

1903

Richard strauss completed the creation of the opera Salome, which premiered in Dresden at the end of 1905. This work's aesthetic tendency and description of abnormal sexual desire have troubled the procuratorial organs in various countries, but it is the pinnacle of Richard Strauss's opera works in music. The exaggeration of music is similar to the explicit description in the script.

1904

Richard strauss completed the symphony "Family Symphony" and performed it in new york. The author conducted it himself.

1908

Richard strauss met the Austrian poet and dramatist Hugo von Hoffman Starr and began to cooperate with him. The first work they collaborated on was Elektra, which is more external than Salome, but slightly inferior in music. 19 10, they finished the three-act comedy opera der rosenkavalier. 19 1 1 was performed in Dresden in, which was widely appreciated by the opera circle and became the reserved repertoire of Richard Strauss's opera works.

19 13 years

Richard strauss completed the chorus "German Classic Songs" and the orchestral work "Festival Prelude".

19 14 years

In May this year, Oxford University awarded Richard strauss a doctorate in music to celebrate his 50th birthday. In the same year, he began to compose the opera Lady Shadow. After the outbreak of World War I, he composed the Alpine Symphony, which premiered in Berlin in June 19 15. 19 16, Hoffman Starr recommended Herman Barr as the author of Richard strauss's plays. Richard strauss conceived the opera Intermittent with an episode in which he married his wife Paulina, and it was not completed until 1924.

19 10- 19 18

Richard strauss has always been the permanent conductor of the Royal Opera House in Berlin. 19 19, he moved to Vienna as the conductor of the local national opera house. During this period, he wrote less, except for the opera Intermittent and the ballet Whipped Cream.

1923

He once again collaborated with Hoffman Starr to create the opera "Helena of Egypt", which failed for the first time five years later. Critics agree that this is a representative work, which shows that Richard strauss's creativity has failed. The opera arabella, written in 1928~ 1932, also lacks originality and is similar to its earlier works.

1933

When Richard strauss began to compose the new opera The Silent Woman, the National Socialist Party headed by Hitler came to power. As a musician, Richard strauss has never asked about politics for decades. He looked down on many politicians and devoted himself to art. However, at this year's Berrod Music Festival, the famous conductor toscanini refused to take part in the performance because of protesting the Nazi persecution of Jews. In order to save the art festival, and out of respect for Wagner's art, Richard strauss took the place of toscanini to conduct this grand performance attended by Nazi dignitaries. In view of Richard strauss's reputation at that time, the Nazi Party needed such a cultural figure to play a propaganda role. Therefore, they played up Richard strauss's actions and regarded his performance as evidence of supporting the Nazi Party. In June165438+1October this year, when the propaganda minister Goebbels established the Nazi "National Music Bureau", he appointed Richard strauss as the director without his consent, thus Richard strauss began a disgraceful page in its history.

Richard strauss lacks political consciousness, or rather, he has the inferiority of German mediocrity. During his tenure as director of the National Music Bureau, he didn't even find out that the playwright who collaborated with him to create operas at that time was Stefan Zweig, a Jew he met a few years ago. Therefore, the Nazis accused Richard strauss in the radio. Zweig took refuge in Zurich and recommended others to write plays for Richard strauss. Richard strauss didn't want to face up to reality, but insisted on writing Zweig's name on posters and programs. His request was met, but Hitler, Goebbels and others who promised to attend the premiere of the opera The Silent Woman did not come. Four days later, the Nazis banned the opera and ordered Richard strauss to resign as the director of the National Music Bureau on the grounds of health. So, Richard strauss compromised and wrote a servile letter to Hitler. Although he did this to keep his job, the fascist leader never gave him or his family any special favor.

1938

The opera Freedom Festival, composed by Richard strauss and written by J Grigo, premiered. This is a drama praising peace. However, for ulterior political and military purposes, the Nazi authorities showed unusual enthusiasm for it and let it perform 100 performances in a row, giving people the illusion of crowing. Naturally, Richard strauss's creation became the propaganda material of this unjust act, which was a great irony to him. Then, the two of them collaborated on an opera, Diana's Love, which was Richard strauss's last opera.

1939

When the war broke out, Richard strauss meant nothing to the Nazis. In Garmisch, he refused to let German stragglers live at home. As a result, his Jewish wife Alice and her children were expelled from Germany. 194 1 year, the Richard strauss family was allowed to settle in Vienna. He wrote the second horn concerto there, and his style seems to have returned to the pattern of similar works in his youth. In Vienna, in order to protect himself, he kept in frequent contact with Nazi leader B von Silas. 1June, 944, although Richard strauss's eightieth birthday was not officially encouraged, Silas and others held activities in their private capacity. Richard strauss once said that he would not premiere Diana's Love before the end of the war, but he was persuaded by his friend Klaus to perform at the Salzburg Music Festival in August.

1945

In the spring, Richard strauss wrote Metamorphosis for 23 kinds of stringed instruments, which seems to be a review of his half-century music career. 1945 after the war, Richard strauss and his wife went into exile in Switzerland. Because of his disgraceful history, his name was listed on the list of Nazi extermination courts. During this period, he wrote oboe concerto and other woodwind music. 1947, Richard strauss Music Festival was held in England, and he was invited to live in London for one month and perform his own works, which partially restored his reputation informally. 1948, the Nazi extermination court officially announced that he was allowed to return to Germany. 1949 in may, Richard strauss dragged his sick body back to China for major surgery, and he took away the last four art songs. He caught up with the celebration ceremony held in June for his eighty-fifth birthday; In August, there was something wrong with my heart. 1September 8, 949, he passed away painlessly. Before he died, he murmured to his daughter-in-law, "Death is like this, just like my book Death and Purification."

Style of works

Richard strauss's works are mostly operas or poems. His opera music is not as attractive as the text and plot of the opera, and it seems a little pale and hoarse. Romantic and popular artistic views do not seem to find an ideal combination in his opera form. However, his music works are not inferior to other similar music after Liszt's symphonic poems in terms of artistic effect and artistic quality. He developed his own title music "Poetry in Music, Expression in Music" and formed his own real style.

Personality assessment

Richard strauss's music poems combine the rich timbre and acoustics of the great orchestras at the end of19th century with poems, legends and even philosophies that inspire the author to create a new artistic wonderland. In his works, we seem to hear the voice of a genius. He speaks, writes poems and draws pictures in living musical language.

Richard strauss's life is full of drama, but his art is as pure and joyful as the warm sunshine in southern Europe. With Nietzsche's worship of musicians, it seems that "I heard a deeper and stronger prelude, more unruly and mysterious music, and there was super-German music in my ear." Under the clear sea and sky, it will not fade, will not be pale, and will not be hazy. "