Richard Strauss

Was Richard Strauss the most incandescent composer of the twentieth century or merely a bourgeois artist and Nazi sympathizer? Since his death on September 8, 1949, Strauss has remained elusive in musical and historical criticism. Lauded as the "greatest musical figure" of his time by Glenn Gould in 1962, he has also faced posthumous criticism, with some viewing him as an artist who lived off his past glories. As recently as 1995, critic Rodney Milnes noted that "the court of posterity is still reserving judgment." In this biography, Michael Kennedy explores the varied criticisms surrounding Strauss, reflecting the perceptions of his contemporaries that influenced almost every aspect of his life and career. Kennedy presents a broad explication rather than a definitive answer, covering the exuberant young Strauss and the aloof middle-aged man, the arch-fiend of modernism, and the composer who redefined it. He highlights Strauss' admiration for German culture, reliance on family, and his "Nietzschean total absorption in art." This framework provides an insightful biographical narrative for both scholars and general readers. Kennedy also examines Strauss' complex relationship with Nazi authorities, navigating his roles as the father-in-law of a Jewish woman and a leading composer.