Strauss, Richard. (1864–1949)
Libretto Collection
Collection of 18 first or early edition libretto booklets for 12 operas of Richard Strauss, in German and French. Most have been stamped on the title page by the Société Richard Strauss France. 12mo. Softcover except where indicated; some with toning, light wear and tape remnants; overall in very good condition. An interesting collection, representing an almost complete overview of Strauss' libretti.The collection includes librettos to the following operas: Feuersnot (Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1901, 47 pp., tape remnants on the interior pages); Salomé (Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1905, 47 pp.); Elektra (French translation; Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1909, 60 pp.); Der Rosenkavalier (Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1910-1911, 150 pp., together a French translation, c. 1910-1911); Josephs Legende (Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1914, 67 pp., together with a French translation c. 1914); Die Frau ohne Schatten (Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1916-1919, 96 pp.); Intermezzo (Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1924, hardcover, 99 pp., first edition); Arabella (Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1933, 95 pp.); Friedenstag (Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1938, 46 pp., together with the French translation c. 1938, Jour de Paix); Die Ägyptische Helena (London: Fürstner/Berlin: Oertel, c. 1928 with an inserted introduction to the new edition c. 1934, 99 pp.); Daphne (Berlin: Fürstner, c. 1938, 48 pp., with an autograph note on the half-title indicating it was bought at the Munich premiere of the opera on May 24, 1941; together with 3 copies of the French translation, c. 1938) ; Die Liebe der Danae (Berlin: Oertel, c. 1944, 91 pp.).
Around the end of the 19th century, Strauss turned his attention to opera. His first two attempts in the genre, Guntram (1894) and Feuersnot (1901), were controversial works: Feuersnot was considered obscene by some critics. In 1905, Strauss produced Salome, modernist opera based on the play by Oscar Wilde, which produced a passionate reaction from audiences. The premiere was a major success, with the artists taking more than 38 curtain calls. Strauss's next operas were Elektra (1909), and Der Rosenkavalier (1911), in which he collaborated with the poet and novelist Hugo van Hofmannsthal. Strauss continued to produce operas at regular intervals until 1942. With Hofmannsthal he created Ariadne auf Naxos (1912), Die Frau ohne Schatten (1919), Die ägyptische Helena (1928), and Arabella (1933). For Intermezzo (1924) Strauss provided his own libretto. Die schweigsame Frau (1935) was composed with Stefan Zweig as librettist; Friedenstag (1935–6) and Daphne (1937) both had a libretto by Joseph Gregor and Stefan Zweig; and Die Liebe der Danae (1940) was with Joseph Gregor. (13907)
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