28 December 2024
>The life and work of Johann Strauss Jr. in Vienna can be explored with a new curated audio walk on the ivie app  When asked, "Guess who's called the King of Waltz?" the answer is "none other than Johann Strauss Jr.". The Viennese composer born in 1825 whose waltzes, including the famous Donauwalzer, have become synonymous with Viennese culture and global New Year's celebrations. Let's take a spin through history and discover how Strauss and his waltzes became icons of elegance and joy. The Waltz: A Global Sensation Born from the rural folk dances of Austria and Bavaria, the waltz captivated European audiences in the late 18th century with its tight partner embrace and spinning steps. By the 19th century, it had become a sophisticated ballroom staple, enchanting cities from Vienna to Paris. Johann Strauss Jr. took the dance to new heights, earning him the nickname "Waltz King". His more than 500 works, brimming with melodic charm and Viennese flair, made the waltz a worldwide sensation. Strauss's music wasn't just popular - it was transformative, symbolizing freedom, elegance, and the vibrant life of Vienna. Donauwalzer: A Viennese Treasure Did you know that the 'Donauwalzer' and 'An der schönen blauen Donau' are the same piece of music? The official title is 'An der schönen blauen Donau', composed by Johann Strauss Jr. in 1866. Despite its formal name, it is often simply called the Donauwalzer. Originally premiered in its orchestral form on November 4, 1873, at a gala concert organized by the Chinese World Exhibition Commission in Vienna, it has since become an iconic masterpiece synonymous with celebration and elegance. This waltz is one of the most recognized melodies in classical music and is often considered the unofficial anthem of Vienna. Its worldwide fame has made it a regular feature of the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert, often performed as an encore to the delight of audiences in over 90 countries. The New Year's Concert 2025: Music, Dance, and Costumes This year's New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic is dedicated to Johann Strauss Jr. in honor of the 200th anniversary of his birth in 2025. The TV broadcast of the concert includes two dance sequences performed by members of the Vienna State Ballet to music by Johann Strauss, filmed in extraordinary locations: 1. Polka fast op. 403 "Entweder-oder" - Set against the grand locomotive 12.10 at the Vienna Museum of Technology, this piece celebrates the industrial ingenuity of Strauss's era. 2. Acceleration Waltz op. 234 - Choreographed in the romantic Südbahnhotel, famous for its connection to the Semmering Railway. These locations highlight the vital role of trains and modern railways in the success of the Strauss family - a fitting tribute as 2025 also marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway system. The ballet sequences, choreographed by Cathy Marston (director of the Zurich Ballet), will make their debut at the New Year's Concert - at the time of writing this article, no images of the costumes had been officially released. In a recent press release, Patrick Kinmonth mentioned that he was very interested in designing materials in an innovative way for this project. He noted that the explosion of sportswear in fashion has brought with it a wide range of high-tech materials to work with. For the first dance sequence, he used materials inspired by industrial finishes, based on the locomotive that served as their chosen backdrop. For the second piece, he explored the widest range of weight, color, texture, and performance, blending computer-generated digital imagery with traditional hand embroidery. Kinmonth is a multi-talented artist, internationally acclaimed as an opera director, set and costume designer, and former creative director of British Vogue. His expertise spans curation, interior design, photography and painting. Kinmonth's approach to the New Year's Concert is inspired by contrasting themes: industrial aesthetics, symbolized by steam locomotives, and romantic storytelling. As mentioned above, the New Year's Concert is available in over 90 countries. Details can be found at wienerphilharmoniker.at, where a TV market overview is also published. For those planning to visit Vienna, the ivie app can be recommended. Exploring Vienna with the ivie app Launched in 2020, the ivie app is a successful digital guide curated by experts for exploring Vienna. With over 1.3 million downloads, it offers tours, event updates and insights into Viennese culture. Special editions like the Pride Month Guide and Morbid Vienna Guide were already topics on Fashion.at. Now, at the end of the year, just ahead of the Johann Strauss Jubilee in 2025, ivie introduces the Johann Strauss Walk, a 30-minute journey through 11 iconic locations related to Strauss' life and music. Highlights include: - Musikverein: The legendary concert hall where Strauss premiered Wiener Blut. - Stadtpark: Home of the golden Strauss statue. - Johann Strauss Museum: An interactive experience of his musical legacy. - Praterstrasse Apartment: Displaying Strauss's original instruments. (Source wien.info) The walks are accompanied by music performed by the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra to immerse you in the world of the Waltz King. Image: The picture shows the screen of the ivie app on a mobile device in front of the larger image of the Johann Strauss monument in Vienna's Stadtpark. Photo: © WienTourismus/Julius Hirtzberger. |
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