Richard Strauss quotes

Richard Strauss was a German composer and conductor, renowned for his operas and tone poems. His work greatly influenced late Romantic and early modern classical music. He is celebrated for masterpieces like “Also sprach Zarathustra” and “Der Rosenkavalier.” Here are 51 of his quotes:

Producers of opera nowadays usually make the mistake of translating each particular orchestral phrase into terms of a movement on the stage. In this matter one should proceed with a maximum of caution and good taste. There is no objection to bringing life to into the production by changes of position and new nuances of acting during repetitive passages of music, especially in arias. Preludes of one or two bars frequently, and especially in Mozart, clearly express some gesture on stage. But each trill on the flute does not represent a wink on the prima donna, nor every delayed chord on the strings a step or gesture. Whole passages, especially in the finales, are pure concert music and are best left undisturbed by "play acting.”.

Richard Strauss

In my opinion, Gustav Mahler's work is one of the most important and interesting products in the history of modern creative arts.

Richard Strauss

Why don't people see what is new in my work, how in them, as is found only in Beethoven, the human being visibly plays a part in the work.

Richard Strauss

Man (in B major) asks: When? When? Nature, (in C Major) answers from the depths Never, never, never will the weather improve.

Richard Strauss

Mozart's melodies, Beethoven's symphonies, Schubert's songs, acts two and three of Tristan are symbols in which are revealed the most profound spiritual truths. They are not "invented", but are "given in their dreams"to those privileged to receive them. Whence they come no one knows, not even their creator, the unconscious mouthpiece of the demiurge.

Richard Strauss

I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer.

Richard Strauss

I ask myself why I have actually survived once more and been called back to life.

Richard Strauss

I am convinced that the decisive factor in dramatic effect will be a smaller orchestra, which does not drown out the human voice as does a large orchestra...The orchestra of the opera of the future is the chamber orchestra which, by painting in the background of the action on the stage with crystalline clearness, can alone realise precisely the intention of the composer with regard to the vocal parts. It is after all an important desideratum that the audience should not only hear the sounds but should also be able to follow the words closely.

Richard Strauss

Strauss told me about his new ballet, which he wrote in the summer. It's called ‘Schlagobers' (whipped cream) and he said, jokingly: ‘Oh yes, when one gets old one has ideas like that.

Richard Strauss

Please start from the Bruch violin concerto again!

Richard Strauss

It is clear to me that the German nation will achieve new creative energy only by liberating itself from Christianity.

Richard Strauss

The melodic idea which suddenly falls upon me out of the blue appears in the imagination immediately, unconsciously, uninfluenced by reason. It is the greatest gift of the divinity and cannot be compared with anything else.

Richard Strauss

Declarations about war and politics are not fitting for an artist, who must give his attention to his creations and his works.

Richard Strauss

The left hand has nothing to do with conducting. Its proper place is the waistcoat pocket from which it should only emerge to restrain or make some minor gesture for which in any case a scarcely perceptible glance should suffice.

Richard Strauss

If you think that the brass is not blowing hard enough, tone it down another shade or two.

Richard Strauss

Conducting is, after all, a difficult business – one has to be seventy years of age to realise this fully!

Richard Strauss

If my works are good and of any importance for the further development of our art, they will maintain their position in spite of all opposition on the part of critics, and in spite of all denigration of my artistic intentions. If they are worthtless, not even the most gratifying box office success or the most enthusiastic acclamation of augurs will keep them alive. Let the pulping press devour them...I shall not shed a tear over their grave.

Richard Strauss

Anybody who wants to be a real musician must be able to set a menu to music.

Richard Strauss

My wife, my child, my music, Nature and the sun; they are my happiness.

Richard Strauss

I hope, most revered Maestro, that these metronome markings, in my opinion wholly unneeded by you, are specific enough. Where they do not fit with your conception, I implore you urgently just to ignore them.

Richard Strauss

Melody as revealed in the greatest works of our classics is one of the most noble gifts which an invisible deity has bestowed on mankind.

Richard Strauss

Of all god-gifted dispensers of joy, Johann Strauss is to me the most endearing. I willingly admit to having sometimes conducted the Perpetuum Mobile with far more pleasure than many a four movement symphony.

Richard Strauss