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For centuries, our editions of major orchestral works have set international standards. Every component of a Breitkopf & Härtel edition is perfectly coordinated. Our large-format scores and orchestral parts, long appreciated by conductors and musicians alike, provide the ideal foundation for outstanding musical work.
Almost all standard works of the classical repertoire are available in modern Urtext editions. At the same time, the established canon is continually expanded to include outstanding works by lesser-known composers, opening up new perspectives and keeping the repertoire vibrant.
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Generous in size, clearly laid out and ideally suited for rehearsals and concerts — a format designed for real-world orchestral use.
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Exceptional legibility, thoughtfully placed page turns, and generous space for markings — designed with professionals in mind.
Flawless in Practice
Critically examined, fully documented, and edited with the greatest care — designed for reliable use in the orchestral repertoire.
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![Ruy Blas in C minor [Op. 95] MWV P 15](https://www.breitkopf.com/media/2f/g0/81/1764007714/9790004215210.jpg?ts=1764007714 "Ruy Blas in C minor [Op. 95] MWV P 15")
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Richard Strauss
Ein Heldenleben op. 40 TrV 190
Urtext Edition edited by Nick Pfefferkorn
“The others spit venom and bile, chiefly because they believed that the unpleasant grumblers and adversaries portrayed in the work were meant to represent themselves.” With characteristic wit, Richard Strauss commented on the reactions to Ein Heldenleben, whose vivid musical portraits of his critics remain among the most memorable passages of the score.
Breitkopf & Härtel’s Urtext Edition is the first since the original publication to evaluate all accessible sources, including the autograph manuscript as well as the corrected scores used by Walter Seifert and Clemens Krauss. The result is a reliable new source basis for numerous editorial decisions and a fresh perspective on one of Strauss’s most celebrated tone poems.
A particular highlight of this edition is the restoration of the original “pianissimo ending”, abandoned by Strauss before the premiere and now made available for performance for the first time. Thanks to practical alternatives incorporated into the performance materials, both endings can be performed with ease. Combining scholarly precision with practical usability, this Urtext Edition sets a new benchmark for the performance of Strauss’s orchestral masterpiece.
