The Librettist is an Author, Too

[karlhenning]

Heirs of composer Richard Strauss to unbelt unto the heirs of Hugo von Hoffmansthal.

[knight66]

Lucky old Strauss family, still raking it in and having done nothing for it but be born in the right bed. But that's life and on that basis, I guess Hoffy's lot also deserve their unearned share.

Mike

[Michel]

i've always thought Strauss' libretti sucked.

[knight66]

Odd...they are amongst the most literate and intelligent. Perhaps wordy for 21 cent. taste, but unlike most, they can just about stand up without the music.

Mike

[Michel]

Odd...they are amongst the most literate and intelligent. Perhaps wordy for 21 cent. taste, but unlike most, they can just about stand up without the music.

Thats just a repition of what everyone else says. Strauss is massively over-rated.

[knight66]

And that is just thoughtless banter, I have read the libretti.

Mike

[Maciek]

Hey, it's not as if Hoffmansthal is some sort of literary nonentity! He is a very decent writer and absolutely deserves the (moderate) fame he has earned.

[val]

MrOsa

Hey, it's not as if Hoffmansthal is some sort of literary nonentity! He is a very decent writer and absolutely deserves the (moderate) fame he has earned.

I agree.
To me his best work is the drama "Jedermann" - the subject reminds the libretto of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius. Frank Martin composed music for some monologues.