Richard Strauss: An Intimate Portrait [Hardcover]

Kurt Wilhelm (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 1989

From the autobiographical opera, "Intermezzo", based on a domestic misunderstanding, to the self-confident tone poem, "Ein Heldenleben", Richard Strauss's works related to his personal experience as closely as any 19th-century romantic. This is a portrait of the man and his music. A large number of the illustrations are taken from the private archive of the Strauss family. They are woven around the text, which features anecdotes, quotations and personal reminiscences by members of the Strauss family and contemporaries. The result is an intimate investigation of the private life, opinions, background and works of Strauss.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd (July 24, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500014590
• ISBN-13: 978-0500014592
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,549,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best English-language guide to Strauss the man, August 23, 2002

By 

R. J. Stove (Gardenvale, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Richard Strauss: An Intimate Portrait (Hardcover)

You can derive pleasure and profit from other books on Richard Strauss, notably Michael Kennedy's (my review of Kennedy's latest Strauss tome is already on Amazon.com) and Norman Del Mar's; but nobody can claim to know Strauss the human being who has not read Kurt Wilhelm's magisterial account. Wilhelm brings the day-to-day behavior of Strauss and his family to life, in a way that no previous biographer -- however diligent -- has managed to do. You finish this production feeling as if you have met the man.

Wilhelm appears to have been given the run of Strauss-related archives at Garmisch, Bavaria, which earlier chroniclers either couldn't or simply didn't use. Old enough to have corresponded with Strauss in person, Wilhelm (who spent part of the Nazi period in jail) is neither oppressively autobiographical nor mindlessly sycophantic: just quizzical, fair-minded, and courageous in his judgements. I don't imagine Strauss himself would have wanted any other sort of tribute.

The pity is that for this English translation (which itself reads very fluently), the original German text has been considerably cut. It remains a splendid book anyhow; but one wonders why any of it had to be omitted. Do English-speaking readers, even in the brave new world of LITTLE BRITAIN, deserve to be treated as morons?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Richard Strauss enigma..., April 22, 2010

By 

Joann Porter Toll (XCalifornia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Richard Strauss: An Intimate Portrait (Paperback)

Many biographies of the most famous German composer of the 20th century have been written, and much time has been spent discussing his political and social opinions since he chose to remain in Germany throughout the Nazi years. This biography is readable, includes many personal little anecdotes not included in other books, and also some of the political discussion, together with excerpts of letters from and to Strauss. It has excellent photos which make the subject more accessible, together with family photos and locales. It covers his life, compositions, anecdotes, and some discussions of his politics, all in one easy to read book. I have read several biographies of Strauss, and found this one to be very personal, entertaining, and informative. It is recommended to any student of German history, musical history, or Strauss in particular.