Richard Strauss is known today for his orchestral works, his operas, and his songs.
But Strauss was also an accomplished pianist and violinist, and it shows in the virtuosity of the Violin Sonata he composed in 1887. The composer was only 23 at the time, but he already had behind him a substantial body of abstract instrumental music, including two symphonies, two concertos, two piano trios, a piano quartet, a string quartet, and a cello sonata, as well as dozens of songs.
The Violin Sonata was completed just before Strauss began his first burst of tone poem creations, Don Juan, Death and Transfiguration, and Macbeth.
Here’s your opportunity to listen to Strauss’ Violin/Piano sonata which you might not have heard before:
