1988, American hardcover edition, Trafalgar Square Publishing, VT, 248 pages. Terrific b&w photos from stage productions of the operas throughout. Richard Strauss is widely regarded as one of the 5 greatest composers of opera. In all, he produced 15 operas before his death in 1949. Here is a book that provides information about this musical genius and a close examination of the music and productions themselves. Author Charles Osborne is widely recognized as an international authority on opera and, at the time of publication, was Drama Critic of the London Daily Telegraph.