Johann Strauss became a master of Viennese popular music: although he initially made music in secret and first had to assert himself against his domineering father.
Johann Strauss - what a melodious name. If you've ever seen the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert, you might think of the wonderful waltz "An der Schönen Blauen Donau", which can be heard there. The Danube Waltz was written by Johann Strauss Sohn, who is the subject of this article. The Radetzky March, which traditionally forms the finale of the New Year's Concert, was written by his father of the same name - the dominant founder of the dynasty of composers who conquered the world with dance and popular music. The whole family was talented - but "Schani" surpassed them all. Before he left a lasting mark on music history, however, he had to free himself from his father's shadow.
Johann Baptist Strauss, born on October 25, 1825 in Vienna, is the eldest of six children, including three brothers. His father is a music entrepreneur, bandmaster, imperial and royal court ball music director and a star since his "Kettenbrücken Waltz" in 1827. He founds an orchestra and travels the world. Everything waltzes, gallops and quadrilles to his baton. Only his son Johann should become a good civil servant, or so he dictates. However, his mother Anna Streim, who resents his husband's infidelities, secretly makes Johann take violin and music lessons.
Great career as a composer after the death of his father
When his father leaves the family to move in with a younger woman, Johann starts playing his first concerts. He had to earn money for the family. His very first performance at the Casino Dommayer on October 15, 1844 in the Viennese suburb of Hietzing was a huge success. He then toured the monarchy with his own orchestra. When his father died in 1849, he merged the two Strauss orchestras. Now there is only one Strauss, or rather three. His brothers Eduard and Josef compose and also play in the orchestra. But soon people will only think of him, the composer and conductor, when they say: The Waltz King is coming.
In high society, the waltz was frowned upon until the early 19th century because it was danced far too close together and this development of the country dance originated from the rural milieu. "Nevertheless, the waltz managed to become the most popular dance," explains Elisabeth Albrecht, Head of Music Education at Haus der Musik. "The aspiring bourgeoisie imitated the aristocratic balls and made the waltz their most important dance - with resounding success. The aristocracy soon also wanted to dance the waltz." Vienna became the first city where this was even permitted at court. Only in the presence of the emperor did waltzing remain forbidden for a long time.
Non-traveling pop star with orchestra
Strauss was not only a brilliant composer with finesse, wit and flair, he was also a pioneer in the development of orchestration and concerto design. His works embodied the elegance and lightness of the Viennese lifestyle. His oeuvre comprises over 500 works, including waltzes, polkas, marches, quadrilles, galops - and operettas.
Time and again, the Strauss waltzes also contain contemporary references. This touched the audience. The "Eisenbahnlustwalzer", in which the rhythmic sound of the locomotive's steam boiler can be heard, was written by his father. In the "Bahn frei" polka by brother Eduard, the train whistle sounds at the beginning of the piece. Johann himself was not very fond of traveling. Whenever he had to go somewhere and the train went over a bridge or through a tunnel, he would throw himself flat on the floor in the carriage.
But the time was ripe, and the music was too good: the Strauss brothers took the world by storm with their music. "The success is probably also down to perfect management. We're talking about a flourishing commercial enterprise that operated worldwide," says Albrecht. Johann Strauss Sohn was a "pop star" of the 19th century. At the World Peace Festival in Boston in 1872, he played with 20 sub-conductors in front of 100,000 people.
Poodle curls for women
His worldwide tours, to Russia, through Europe and to the USA, repeatedly made headlines in the tabloids. In 1850, on their way to Warsaw, the musicians were allegedly mistaken for spies and locked in a pigsty. It is said that they were only released following the personal intervention of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, to whom Johann Strauss Sohn then dedicated the "Warsaw Polka" composed for the guest performance. A true story or good marketing? The fact is that Johann Strauss was a womanizer who was good-looking. He dyed his hair. His lovers often asked him for a lock of hair, as was customary at the time. He is said to have cut it off his poodle, which was also black-haired.
Johann Strauss was very popular with the rulers of the Viennese court - until he showed himself to be a sympathizer of the 1848 revolution by composing the Freedom Song Waltz and the Revolutionary March. It was not until 1863 that he was appointed Imperial-Royal Court Ball Music Director by Emperor Franz Joseph. He now conducted all court balls until 1871. During this time, Strauss only composed dance music. He then began to write operettas. "Die Fledermaus" and "Der Zigeunerbaron" became particularly famous.
Johann Strauss was married three times, but remained childless. His first wife, Henriette, was a few years older than him, the other two around 30 years younger. His last wife Adele, like Henriette, managed her husband and contributed to the success of the Strauss dynasty.
