Artist: Richard Strauss
Genre: Classical

Richard Strauss was a German composer and conductor whose orchestral tone poems and operas represent late Romanticism's most virtuosic achievements. Works including 'Also sprach Zarathustra' (famous from '2001: A Space Odyssey'), 'Don Juan,' 'Till Eulenspiegel,' and 'Ein Heldenleben' showcase his extraordinary orchestration. His operas 'Salome,' 'Elektra,' and 'Der Rosenkavalier' remain repertoire staples. Strauss's ability to combine technical brilliance with emotional expression made his music enduringly popular. His influence on orchestral music and his role as one of the last great Romantic composers secured his place among classical music's essential figures.