Lieder mit Klavierbegleitung ab op. 66

In 1918 a twelve-year phase came to an end during which Richard Strauss had completely turned his back on the composition of lieder. Plausible explanations for this period of abstinence range from Strauss’s focus on stage works during this time to the fact that his wife Pauline, who had previously constituted the composer’s “ideal performer” of his lieder and frequently been the source of inspiration for these compositions, had ended her career as a singer.

After not having produced any new lieder during these twelve years, Strauss was equally consistent in the resumption of lied composition – at least in the year 1918 that would prove to be the most intensive “lieder year” in his entire compositional career with the composition of opp. 66, 67, 68 and 69 (a grand total of 29 lieder, in addition to the orchestration of six piano lieder composed in former years). The current volume includes the lieder dating from 1918 up to Strauss’s death in 1949 in their original language and pitch.