Travel tips for opera lovers – Meiningen and Richard Strauss

The Meiningen Orchestra was one of the best in Europe at the end of the 19th century. The arts-minded sovereign George II, called the “Theater Duke” promoted the arts and Hans von Bülow led it to its greatest flowering from 1880. Bülow became friends with Johannes Brahms, who conducted the orchestra several times and had his 4th Symphony premiered there.

Interestingly, Brahms’ potential successor was also present in Meiningen, for Brahms met Richard Strauss in Meiningen during these years, who became Bülows Kapellmeister in Meiningen in 1885. Brahms is also said to have conceded to Strauss a “Ganz hübsch, junger Mann” (Very handsome, young man) to his F minor symphony (which, from Brahms’ mouth, was a compliment).

Strauss until then a Brahmsian, but in this year becomes a Wagnerian under the influence of the concertmaster Ritter, and switched from the symphony to the form of the symphonic poem. 1886 Strauss returned to Munich.