The Strauss Dynasty & the Viennese Waltz
The Strauss family gave the world the Viennese Waltz — and Vienna its musical myth. Johann Strauss Father (1804–1849) wrote the Radetzky March, which concludes every New Year's concert to this day. His son Johann Strauss Son (1825–1899), the "Waltz King," composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, and operettas — including The Blue Danube (the unofficial anthem of Vienna and Austria), Die Fledermaus, and The Gypsy Baron.
The Viennese Waltz was revolutionary in the 19th century: For the first time, couples danced closely embraced — a scandal for the society of the time. The three-quarter time, the turns, the elegance — all became the epitome of Viennese culture. To this day, every ball opens with a waltz, and the ability to dance the Viennese Waltz is considered a basic skill in Austria.
The New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein is broadcast every year on January 1st to over 90 countries — it is the most-watched classical concert in the world. The tickets are extremely sought after: You must register a year in advance for a lottery. However, the dress rehearsal on December 30th is freely accessible (registration required).
Contemporaries and successors: Franz Lehár (The Merry Widow), Carl Michael Ziehrer, and Robert Stolz continued the Viennese operetta tradition, which stands as a distinct genre between opera and musical.
