Richard Strauss and his Heroines
The film “Richard Strauss and his Heroines” explores Strauss’ relationship with women. The primary focus lies on his attachment to Pauline, his wife of more than 55 years.
Composer Richard Strauss was born on 11 June 1864, and he died on 8 September 1949. As such, he experienced the most varied of epochs in German history, from the German Empire, to the Nazi dictatorship, and the post-war period. How did the image of women change during this time, and what influence did it have on Strauss’ work? And above all: how did Strauss achieve to express the finest feminine feelings in his music?
Exploring these questions in this DVD, we meet Strauss’ last surviving grandchild who has first hand experience with the married life of his grandparents.
This film includes a performance of:
Strauss, R:
- Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28, conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler
Featuring Brigitte Fassbaender, Renee Fleming, Dame Gwyneth Jones, Christa Ludwig, Christian Strauss, and Rufus Wainwright
This film includes interviews with the great Strauss singers such as Brigitte Fassbaender, Renée Fleming, Dame Gwyneth Jones and Christa Ludwig who report on their famous Strauss roles. Rufus Wainwright, and conductor Franz Welser-Möst and other Strauss experts lead us through the film.
“Richard Strauss and his Heroines” is the first filmed documentation about the unforgettable heroines created by Strauss, and how they affected his life and his marriage.
Bonus Features that are also included: Wilhelm Furtwängler conducts Till Eulenspiegel and excerpt from Ein Leben für die Musik (A life for music).
Here is Richard Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche” Op. 28, with Lorin Maazel conducting:
And next, here is Renee Fleming, singing Strauss’ “Im abendrot” from his ‘4 Last Songs’:
Finally, here is Richard Strauss, himself, conducting the Vienna Philharmonic:
Tags: Richard Strauss, Richard Strauss and his Heroines, singers, women, Im abendrot, four last songs, Till Eulenspiegel
