Hugo von Hofmannsthal

Hugo von Hofmannsthal , 1874-1929, Austrian dramatist and poet. His first verses were published when he was 16 years old, and his play The Death of Titian (1892, tr. 1913) when he was 18. His varied gifts as poet and as dramatist are shown in his librettos for Richard Strauss, including Elektra (1903), Der Rosenkavalier (1911), Ariadne auf Naxos (1912), and Arabella (1933). After World War I, he was one of the founders of the Salzburg Festival, where his plays, such as the tragedy Der Turm (1925), his adaptation of Everyman (1911, tr. 1917), are regularly produced.

Bibliography: See his Selected Writings (3 vol., 1952-63); his correspondence with Strauss (1955, tr. 1961); studies by H. Broch (1984), M. Hamburger (1970), and B. Bennett (1988).

Hofmannsthal, Hugo von (b Vienna, 1874; d Rodaun, nr. Vienna, 1929). Austrian author, poet, and playwright. With Max Reinhardt and others, founded Salzburg Fest. in 1920. Librettist for several works of Richard Strauss: the operas Elektra (1906–8), Der Rosenkavalier (1909–10), Ariadne auf Naxos (1912, 2nd version 1916), Die Frau ohne Schatten (1914–18), Die ägyptische Helena (1924–7), and Arabella (1928–32), the ballet Josephslegende (1913–14); Der Burger als Edelmann (Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme) (1912 and 1917); ed. with Strauss of Beethoven's ballet Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus; cantata Tüchtigen stellt das schnelle Glück (1914). Also librettist for Wellesz's Alkestis (1922–3). Plays incl. Alkestis (1893), Elektra (1903), and Jedermann (1912).