R. Strauss: Don Juan & Symphony No. 2 in F Minor (Live)

Featuring

Sebastian Weigle
Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester
Richard Strauss

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Johannes Brahms advised a young Richard Strauss to study Schubert's dances and focus on inventing simple, 8-bar melodies, and criticized his symphony for too much 'playing around with themes'.

Composition History

Richard Strauss's definitive breakthrough as a composer came with the tone poem Don Juan, Op. 20, composed in 1888, which featured a completely new approach to instrumentation.

Composition History

Richard Strauss's Symphony in F minor, Op. 12, composed in 1883, served as his breakthrough into institutionalized musical life as both a composer and conductor.

Compositional Technique

Don Juan is based on the poem of the same name by Nikolaus Lenau, from which Strauss quotes three passages in his score, serving as a 'psychogram' of Don Juan's personality rather than a literal program.

Notable Performances

The European premiere of Strauss's Symphony in F minor on January 13, 1885, by the Gürzenich Orchestra of Cologne under Franz Wüllner, made a lasting impression after its earlier New York premiere.

Composer Biography

At just 21 years old, Richard Strauss was appointed court music director in Meiningen under Hans von Bülow, a position that marked his entry into public musical life.

Performer Biography

The Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester has been named 'Orchestra of the Year' by the journal 'Opernwelt' for three consecutive years: 2009, 2010, and 2011.