Strauss 150

Strauss 150

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2014

Early Influences

20140609

Donald Macleod introduces important figures who each played a key role in Strauss's burgeoning career as both conductor and composer.

Strauss's father, Franz, exerted a powerful influence over his education and early career. Conductor Hans von Bülow gave Strauss his first conducting post, and the violinist Alexander Ritter was responsible for igniting Strauss's passion for Wagner. However, the most significant figure of all was Strauss's wife, the distinguished soprano Pauline de Ahna, for whom Strauss wrote more than 200 songs over the course of his career.

Donald Macleod focuses on figures who played a key role in Richard Strauss's early career.

2014

Married Bliss?

20140610

Strauss had a rather unconventional relationship with his wife Pauline but theirs was an enduring partnership, sealed right at the start by what would become some of Strauss's best loved songs. Donald Macleod introduces a set of songs Strauss wrote for her as a wedding present, and two works which transformed his career - the ever-popular tone poem about a legendary prankster, and his first operatic success.

With songs Strauss wrote for his wife, the first operatic success and Till Eugenspiegel.

2014

The Perfect Librettist

20140611

In the years leading up to the First World War, Strauss was increasingly in demand across Europe, both in and out of the orchestra pit. He now embarked on the most fruitful collaboration of his operatic career with the Austrian poet and dramatist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Donald Macleod introduces music from two of the operas to come out of that unlikely partnership.

Donald Macleod introduces music from the most important collaboration of Strauss's career.

2014

Inter-war Years

20140612

As the Nazi party began to interest itself in the political influence of art and music, Strauss, as Germany's most high profile composer, found himself drawn inexorably into the party's propaganda machine. Donald Macleod introduces music from the inter-war years including six songs written for the soprano Elisabeth Schumann and music from three more important operas, including one which provides a revealing fly-on-the-wall view behind the scenes of the Strausses' marriage.

Donald Macleod with music from three important Strauss operas written between the wars.

2014

05 LAST

Final Years

20140613

After the Second World War, Strauss was under suspicion as a collaborator. During the Allies' investigation, he was persuaded to go into exile in Switzerland and, once there, he and his wife underwent a gruelling, nomadic existence for more than three years. Finally cleared in June 1948, Strauss returned home in the spring of the following year, just months before he died.

Donald Macleod introduces two of Strauss's finest works from those final years - one an overwhelming expression of grief, the other his crowning achievement to a life devoted to the human voice.

Donald Macleod introduces works from Strauss's final years.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2014	01	Early Influences	20140609	Donald Macleod introduces important figures who each played a key role in Strauss's burgeoning career as both conductor and composer. Strauss's father, Franz, exerted a powerful influence over his education and early career. Conductor Hans von Bülow gave Strauss his first conducting post, and the violinist Alexander Ritter was responsible for igniting Strauss's passion for Wagner. However, the most significant figure of all was Strauss's wife, the distinguished soprano Pauline de Ahna, for whom Strauss wrote more than 200 songs over the course of his career. Donald Macleod focuses on figures who played a key role in Richard Strauss's early career.
2014	02	Married Bliss?	20140610	Strauss had a rather unconventional relationship with his wife Pauline but theirs was an enduring partnership, sealed right at the start by what would become some of Strauss's best loved songs. Donald Macleod introduces a set of songs Strauss wrote for her as a wedding present, and two works which transformed his career - the ever-popular tone poem about a legendary prankster, and his first operatic success. With songs Strauss wrote for his wife, the first operatic success and Till Eugenspiegel.
2014	03	The Perfect Librettist	20140611	In the years leading up to the First World War, Strauss was increasingly in demand across Europe, both in and out of the orchestra pit. He now embarked on the most fruitful collaboration of his operatic career with the Austrian poet and dramatist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Donald Macleod introduces music from two of the operas to come out of that unlikely partnership. Donald Macleod introduces music from the most important collaboration of Strauss's career.
2014	04	Inter-war Years	20140612	As the Nazi party began to interest itself in the political influence of art and music, Strauss, as Germany's most high profile composer, found himself drawn inexorably into the party's propaganda machine. Donald Macleod introduces music from the inter-war years including six songs written for the soprano Elisabeth Schumann and music from three more important operas, including one which provides a revealing fly-on-the-wall view behind the scenes of the Strausses' marriage. Donald Macleod with music from three important Strauss operas written between the wars.
2014	05 LAST	Final Years	20140613	After the Second World War, Strauss was under suspicion as a collaborator. During the Allies' investigation, he was persuaded to go into exile in Switzerland and, once there, he and his wife underwent a gruelling, nomadic existence for more than three years. Finally cleared in June 1948, Strauss returned home in the spring of the following year, just months before he died. Donald Macleod introduces two of Strauss's finest works from those final years - one an overwhelming expression of grief, the other his crowning achievement to a life devoted to the human voice. Donald Macleod introduces works from Strauss's final years.