Igor Strawinski, Konzert fuer Klavier und Blaeser 1 Satz Lento Allegro

Richard Strauss - His Music and Life

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

Born on June 11, 1864 in Munich, the German Richard Strauss passed away in Garmisch on September 8, 1949. His mother came from the Munich brewery family Pschorr.

His father, Franz Strauss, had been the "First Royal Bugle Player" of the Royal Musician Academy Munich. Also Richard Strauss had nothing to do with the Viennese Johann Strauss dynasty.

His first compostions left (or better "bequeathed") great classical music treasures: "String Quintet a-major" (1881), "Symphony a-major" (1884), and many more. Strauss' "Great Symphony in f-minor" (1882-1884) has been performed for the first time in New York. His "Burlesque for piano and orchestra" (1885) showed great influences of Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).

In 1888, Strauss composed his first sound poetry "Don Juan", which became the first lasting report of a new classical composition direction. The following pieces "Marbeth" (1890) and "Death and Transfiguration" (1891) overtaxed many musicians' possibilities.

Also "Zarathustra speaks" (1896) suffered from the attempt something to express more by music but remaining unsuccessful.

Strauss started to accept his own naive-uninhibited phantasm and much more beautiful compositions attained his goal. The opera "Salome" (lyrics by Oscar Wilde) was a hazardous business, but the title role's perverted hysteria griped Strauss. The premiere in Dresden/German in 1905 became a great success.

Richard Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra / 2001 Space Odyssey opening t...

Oscar Straus - His Music and Life

Born on March 6, 1870 in Vienna, The Austrian Oscar Straus passed away in Ischl on January 11, 1954.

Straus studied in Vienna, later with Max Bruch, the composer of the most performed violin concertos from 1868 uo to now. Straus' Opus 1 has been the overture "The dream - a life!"

Straus is known as a chamber music careerist and theater bandmaster as well as conductor in the former CSSR, Teplitz, mainz and Berlin/Germany. In 1900, Straus became Musical Director of E.V. Wolzogen's cabaret "Ueberbrettl". During that time Straus found out his talent for the so-called "light music". As an operetta composer he walked off with such great successes as "A waltz dream" (1920), "Teresina" (1925) or "Her first waltz" (1950).

The category "Viennese Waltzes" got many highlights because of him, who, by the way has not nothing to do with the Johann Strauss dynasty,

In 1940, Oscar STraus migrated to the USA and composed many movie themes, i.e. Max Ophuels "Der Reigen" (The Rondale/La Ronda).

Oscar Straus - Der Reigen (La Ronde), Waltz

Otto Nicolai - His Music and Life

Born on June 9, 1810 in Königsberg, Germany/Poland, Otto Nicolai passed away in Berlin on May 11, 1849.

At the age of 16, he left his parental house because he thought he mind find his personal fulfilment and luck by travelling to foreign countries.

A generous sponsor facilitated a music study with Karl-Friedrich Zeller (1758-1832) in Berlin. In 1833, Otto Nicolai became organist at the German Legation of Rome. He started composing operas following the typical Italian style. "Il Templaro" (1840) became his greatest success.

The premiere of "The Merry Wifes from Windsor" ("Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor" - 1849) impressed all classical music lovers with wonderful melodies and grateful opera parts. Nicolai could enjoy an over-whelming  appreciation only for two months (!), because he passed away surprisingly.

During the 1930s a rebirth of his music works has been without success. What a pity!

Modest Mussorgski - His Music and Life

The Russian Modest Mussorgski was born on March 21, 1839 in Karewo/Pskow. He passed away in Saint Petersburg on March 28, 1881.

His ancestors have been Russian princes and their relatives. He was appointed to start an officer's cadet career. In 1856, Mussorgski joined a guard regiment. He became acquainted with Alexander Dargomischski, Cesar Cui and Mily Balakirew.

Modest, meanwhile an alcoholic, didn't know how to convert his incredible music talent into a successful classical music composer career. A genius finder talent let him rush centuries in advance in subscribing incredible composer talents. He developed a unique expressionism and impressionism of unknown Russian music reality.

"Pictures at an Exhibition" and "A Night on a Bald Mountain" as well as "The Dances of the Deaths" belonged to Russian classical music jewels.