[Dr. Thorne]

Strauss wrote some glorious operas (Der Rosenkavalier, Salome, Arabella) and some really awful ones (Elektra, Die schweigsame Frau, Intermezzo). I know that Elektra is performed quite often, but it is a hideous story with ugly music. I believe Strauss wrote this ugly music purposefully to depict the ghastly people and storyline. But, who cares? I won't subject myself to this piece, and I actually sang in it once.

[chajin]

Strauss wrote some glorious operas (Der Rosenkavalier, Salome, Arabella) and some really awful ones (Elektra, Die schweigsame Frau, Intermezzo).

I might disagree with you about Intermezzo, but that's a matter of taste :-) your main point is a salient one: every composer, painter, sculptor, architect, playwright, poet, movie director, choreographer produces some dogs, but even The Dogs of Richard Strauss make the world a much better place than The Hits of Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga admits that she is influenced by Bach, but Bach would never have needed to be influenced by Lady Gaga.

[Borges]

Elektra is glorious. One of the best operas of the 20th century.

[elcid1970]

Where would Also Sprach Zarathustra rate, compared to those already noted?