Ein Heldenleben, op. 40, TrV190
Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life), Op. 40, is a tone poem by Richard Strauss. The work was completed in 1898. It was his eighth work in the genre, and exceeded any of its predecessors in its orchestral demands. Generally agreed to be autobiographical in nature despite contradictory statements on the matter by the composer, the work contains more than thirty quotations from Strauss's earlier works, including Also sprach Zarathustra, Till Eulenspiegel, Don Quixote, Don Juan, and Death and Transfiguration.
Movements
- op. 40: I. Der Held
- op. 40: II. Des Helden Widersacher
- op. 40: III. Des Helden Gefährtin
- op. 40: IV. Des Helden Walstatt
- op. 40: V. Des Helden Friedenswerke
- op. 40: VI. Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung
Recommended recordings
- Berliner Philharmoniker · Herbert von Karajan YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
- Concertgebouw Orchestra · Bernard Haitink YouTubeSpotify (subscription)