Richard Strauss
Strauss's compositional output began in 1870 when he was just six years old and lasted until his death nearly eighty years later. While his output of works encompasses nearly every type of classical compositional form, Strauss achieved his greatest success with tone poems and operas. His first tone poem to achieve wide acclaim was "Don Juan", and this was followed by other lauded works of this kind, including "Death and Transfiguration", "Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks", "Also sprach Zarathustra", "Don Quixote", "Ein Heldenleben", "Symphonia Domestica", and "An Alpine Symphony". His first opera to achieve international fame was "Salome" which used a libretto by Hedwig Lachmann that was a German translation of the French play "Salomé" by Oscar Wilde. This was followed by several critically acclaimed operas with librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal: "Elektra", "Der Rosenkavalier", "Ariadne auf Naxos", "Die Frau ohne Schatten", "Die ägyptische Helena", and "Arabella". His last operas, "Daphne", "Friedenstag", "Die Liebe der Danae" and "Capriccio" used libretti written by Joseph Gregor, the Viennese theatre historian. Other well-known works by Strauss include two symphonies, lieder (especially the "Four Last Songs"), the Violin Concerto in D minor, the Horn Concerto No. 1, Horn Concerto No. 2, his Oboe Concerto and other instrumental works such as "Metamorphosen".
Richard Strauss
Strauss was also a prominent conductor in Western Europe and the Americas, enjoying quasi-celebrity status as his compositions became standards of orchestral and operatic repertoire. He was chiefly admired for his interpretations of the works of Liszt, Mozart, and Wagner in addition to his own works. A conducting disciple of Hans von Bülow, Strauss began his conducting career as Bülow's assistant with the Meiningen Court Orchestra in 1883. After Bülow resigned in 1885, Strauss served as that orchestra's primary conductor for five months before being appointed to the conducting staff of the Bavarian State Opera where he worked as third conductor from 1886–1889. He then served as principal conductor of the Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar from 1889–1894. In 1894 he made his conducting debut at the Bayreuth Festival, conducting Wagner's "Tannhäuser" with his wife, soprano Pauline de Ahna, singing Elisabeth. He then returned to the Bavarian State Opera, this time as principal conductor, from 1894–1898, after which he was principal conductor of the Berlin State Opera from 1898–1913. From 1919–1924 he was principal conductor of the Vienna State Opera, and in 1920 he co-founded the Salzburg Festival. In addition to these posts, Strauss was a frequent guest conductor in opera houses and with orchestras internationally.
Alessandra Marc
Alessandra Marc (born July 29, 1957) is an American dramatic soprano who has appeared at many of the world's opera houses and orchestras. Marc is particularly known for her interpretations of the works of Richard Strauss, Richard Wagner, Giuseppe Verdi, music of the Second Viennese School, and the title role in Puccini's "Turandot".
Alessandra Marc
Alessandra Marc was born with the name Judith Borden in Berlin, Germany to a German mother and a Polish-born father who worked for the United States Army Intelligence. Marc spent much of her childhood traveling around the world as an "army brat". Her parents ultimately divorced, and she spent her high school years in the Baltimore area. Marc first became interested in becoming an opera singer while attending Glen Burnie High School, where she began taking voice lessons. Marc studied at the University of Maryland and privately with soprano Marilyn Cotlow, who originated the role of Lucy in Menotti's "The Telephone".

Question: What does Alessandra Marc and Richard Strauss have in common?
Answer: opera