(July 2023) Episode 507 is RICHARD STRAUSS. Most know him from the opening to Also sprach Zarathustra used in the film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” one of the many tone poems for which he is known. He lived a long life and his output was so voluminous he was considered a specialist in many forms, from songs to operas. My favorite pieces are his choral works, containing enough dissonance to keep me interested. His style was Romantic, maintained for decades after the style went out of fashion (he died in 1949), although he did incorporate modernist elements.
Favorite piece: Metamorphosen
Favorite choral piece: Deutsche Motette
Favorite tone poem: Also sprach Zarathustra
Favorite chamber piece: Two Pieces for piano quartet
Favorite opera: Elektra
Compared to expectations: same
Recommendation: It’s not bad, but there’s also nothing that grabs you, and there are many first-half-of-the-20th-century composers I would pick first
Opus Project 