[Xisten267]

The works are ordered more or less chronologically. Define "greatest" as you wish. If you choose Other(s), please tell us here in the comments section which work(s) you had in mind.

You may change your vote later.

 

[Xisten267]

Friedenstag and Daphne were put together in a single option because Strauss intended them to be performed together, so I considered that, for the purposes of this poll, both were a single work. See here.

 

[Neo Romanza]

Why, oh why, oh why must you torture me so! Strauss is one of my absolute favorite composers, so, ideally, no list at all would be ideal. But, just for fun, here are my picks: Tod und Verklärung, Eine Alpensinfonie, Elektra, Der Rosenkavalier and Vier letzte Lieder. There...are you happy now?!?!?

 

[Lisztianwagner]

Very difficult, but my choices could be Eine Alpensinfonie, Also sprach Zarathustra, Elektra, Der Rosenkavalier and Vier letzte Lieder.

 

[mbhaub]

Why, oh why, oh why must you torture me so! Strauss is one of my absolute favorite composers, so, ideally, no list at all would be ideal. But, just for fun, here are my picks: Tod und Verklärung, Eine Alpensinfonie, Elektra, Der Rosenkavalier and Vier letzte Lieder. There...are you happy now?!?!?

I have to admit that having listened to classical music for 60 years, and having heard practically everything of Strauss, having sat through several of the operas live, and playing some of the music there is something about his music that I just don't get - it has never seemed essential, loveable or sometimes even likeable. Maybe 2023 needs to be my Straussjarhe. Go through his music again, read a biography or two, and try to find out what I've been missing. So many people are enthralled with his music that I fully admit that my blind spot has been there too long. I'll get back to you in December 2023.

 

[Neo Romanza]

I have to admit that having listened to classical music for 60 years, and having heard practically everything of Strauss, having sat through several of the operas live, and playing some of the music there is something about his music that I just don't get - it has never seemed essential, loveable or sometimes even likeable. Maybe 2023 needs to be my Straussjarhe. Go through his music again, read a biography or two, and try to find out what I've been missing. So many people are enthralled with his music that I fully admit that my blind spot has been there too long. I'll get back to you in December 2023.

Besides you, I know several veteran classical listeners who have no affinity for Strauss. If you feel like you're not missing anything, then there's no reason to force yourself to like a composer with whom you have remained indifferent to for such a long time.

 

[ScottK]

I didn't want to put just operas because I love his other stuff and wanted it represented....and wish he had written full symphonies... so:

FAVORITES by the way....wouldn't know where to start rating 4 songs vs Frau Ohne Schatten:

Rosenkavalier
Death and Transfiguration
Ariadne
Four Last Songs
Frau Ohne Schatten

Just today I heard a beautiful movement from the violin sonata in a student recital...gorgeous!

 

[Rogerx]

Vier letzte Lieder, TrV 296
Don Quixote, Op. 35
Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64
Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
Both Jorn concertos

 

[Art Rock]

Vier Letzte Lieder, Metamorphosen and Don Juan are my favourites. My fourth choice is Salome, and my fifth goes under 'other': Morgen!, the best of his many songs. Excellent composer.

 

[Bulldog]

Four Last Songs
Metamorphosen
Also Sprach..............
Oboe Concerto
Alpine Symphony

 

[Neo Romanza]

I didn't want to put just operas because I love his other stuff and wanted it represented....and wish he had written full symphonies... so:

FAVORITES by the way....wouldn't know where to start rating 4 songs vs Frau Ohne Schatten:

Rosenkavalier
Death and Transfiguration
Ariadne
Four Last Songs
Frau Ohne Schatten

Just today I heard a beautiful movement from the violin sonata in a student recital...gorgeous!

Some great choices there, @ScottK. The Violin Sonata is a gorgeous work and it deserves to be recorded more often, IMHO.

Here are my two favorite recordings of it:

 

[ScottK]

Some great choices there, @ScottK. The Violin Sonata is a gorgeous work and it deserves to be recorded more often, IMHO.

Here are my two favorite recordings of it:

Can't wait to hear the whole thing, many thanks!!!

 

[dko22]

the late works are the greatest in the sense they seem to say more with less effort-- above all the Four Last Songs but also the Oboe Concerto and Metamorphosen. My list is almost identical to Bulldog.

 

[prlj]

I have to admit that having listened to classical music for 60 years, and having heard practically everything of Strauss, having sat through several of the operas live, and playing some of the music there is something about his music that I just don't get - it has never seemed essential, loveable or sometimes even likeable. Maybe 2023 needs to be my Straussjarhe. Go through his music again, read a biography or two, and try to find out what I've been missing. So many people are enthralled with his music that I fully admit that my blind spot has been there too long. I'll get back to you in December 2023.

I feel like I could have written the same thing, word for word. I appreciate and respect his works, and I've certainly listened to many (including Rosenkavalier a few days ago, with score in hand), but I've never connected with them. I tried Elektra a while ago, also with score in hand, and just couldn't even get through the first 10 minutes.

Given his longevity, popularity, and influence, he clearly seems to be worthy of the investment of time.

 

[justekaia]

Violin Sonata
Tod und Verklärung
Die Frau ohne Schatten
Metamorphosen
Vier letzte Lieder

 

[Scherzi Cat]

I also have had trouble connecting to Strauss over my 40 year adventure in classical music. This poll is one that I have been hoping for. Thank you Xisten267 for putting it together. This will help me to focus on a few works and make my vote selection later. Opera is not a love of mine and so my votes will ultimately go to the orchestral and concertante type works. Only one I am sure of is Alpine Symphony. What a gorgeous piece of music!

 

[PeterKC]

Don Juan, Till, Tod, 4 Last Songs, Burlesque. And a consolation prize to The Divertimento After Couperin.

 

[Kreisler jr]

Don Juan, easily my favorite Tondichtung, Salome, 4 LL, Others = Burleske, a cool and underrated concertino; I swapped Elektra for Metamorphosen because I know that opera only so superficially. I cannot really be bothered with opera anymore, although I think I should. Saw Rosenkavalier on stage and it's too long but some very beautiful music. I also like the violin sonata. Strauss wasn't simpatico and I only connect with some of his music but he was an incredibly capable composer.

 

[larold]

Also Sprach Zarathustra, or at least its beginning, is one of the few pieces of classical music virtually everyone knows or has heard. It is as familiar as the fate knocking at the door opening from the Beethoven Fifth Symphony or the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah. As such it must be No. 1 on any such list for that reason.

Otherwise "greatest" works are probably his operas beginning with Rosenkavalier. I also voted for Four Last Songs, Ein Heldenleben and the Duet-Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon which I think Strauss's greatest work in a Mozartean vein. He loved Mozart.

Another favorite not on the list would be his brief but wonderful Serenade in E Op. 7 though it is not in the same category as the others.

 

[Waehnen]

My choices:

Also Sprach Zarathustra
Eine Alpensinfonie
Vier Letzte Lieder
Horn Concerto no. 2
Metamorphosen

I am not a great fan of Richard Strauss although I respect his craftsmanship a lot. In general, Mahler was a lot deeper, Bruckner more noble, Wagner the superior opera composer. Strauss has always sounded somewhat bourgeois and rather shallow to me.

The works I listed are masterpieces, though.