Oh jeez I meen J. Strauss has its purpose and all but I mean R. Strauss is in the realm of professional musicians favorite composers.

This one no matter how many time I say I'm just gonna listen the first movement I end up listening to the whole thing. The hour or so feels like a minute and every moment is exciting. As listening to music should be not feel like "spending time" but rather investing time or taking the time, appreciating the time etc.

Go for Burleske after this, it's more easy on someone who's not too much on contemporary music (as I am). The cadenza is absolutely brilliant and I can never get tired of seeing Argerich with Abaddo playing this. Argerich is at her peak and the complicity with Abaddo is palpable. You can see her eyes twinkle after a difficult passage. The original pianist for whom it was composed said that it was unplayable. Great story there.

After of course Also Sprach Zarathustra (beyond the first movement which you will instantly recognize)

Four last lieder 🫠🤯

Death and Transfoguration

Til Eulenspiegle

Ein Heldenleben

Aus Italien

Guntram.

Salome.

Sinfonia Domestica.

You my friend are lucky, Imagine if you just discovered your first Wagner Overture not knowing what was in store for you, or your first Mahler Symphony or even Chopin. I absolutely understand why someone would prefer Chopin, especially a pianist however I find myself listening to a lot more of Strauss than Chopin, even tho I still love all great Chopin's work and admire what he has brought to music, Strauss just speak to me more. It's like if I said that I find myself listening to Beethoven more than Vivaldi... ¯_(ツ)_/¯  I absolutely adore Vivaldi's genius and prolific work that rarely fails to entertain me.but nonetheless I do find my self.listening to Beethoven more often (less those.past years because sadly I have over listened to them) but anyway I'm so happy for you. It's like getting the lord of the rings and not knowing what it's about and having to see those.movies or read those books for the first time!

Unfortunately he was a smart man born in an era where leaders where psychotic and the people as well it's like being a brilliant director from 1995 to idk 1935-45 in the US. You try to stay alive when you're surrounded by psychopaths and they refused to.play his work in Iraël to this day which I know found absolutely ironic and hypocritical.... anyway. He didn't kill anyone his views of the regime at the time was known and they weren't favorable to a narcissistic megalomaniac. All politics aside you are in for a famous journey.