Composer, conductor of extraordinary talent, and erudite Richard Strauss is considered one of the most important figures in the history of Western European music. His musical language is an amalgam of the styles of late Romanticism, Expressionism and Neoclassicism. Strauss’ name is inextricably linked with masterpieces of orchestral music. Up to the 20^th century, the composer was interested in the tone poem genre. He composed tone poems based on both philosophical and illustrative programmes. Strauss’ tone poem Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) has been considered an autobiographical work, ridiculing and provoking Strauss’ critics, whom he depicts as a caricature with cacophonous sounds, and celebrating his own exploits and triumphs with quotations from his early works. The composer was amused by this juxtaposition. The idea of the work is the victory of idealism over petty criticism. “Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) speaks of the greatness of the human spirit, of the fact that every man is a hero entitled to love, to celebrate body and soul, to revel in verve and dreams. Every human being is meant to create”, maestro Modestas Pitrėnas said before the performance. The tone poem Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) consists of 6 movements performed without interruption.

The Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Modestas Pitrėnas, performs Strauss’ magnificent tone poem, with Dalia Dėdinskaitė as violin soloist.