Straussomania: Austria prepares to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss II’s birth
Two hundred years after the birth of Vienna’s Waltz King, the fan frenzy around the composer is still going strong
In Austria, the arrival of the New Year is always celebrated to the sounds of Strauss, and in particular the great swirling tune that has become the country’s unofficial national anthem – Johann Strauss II’s An der schönen blauen Donau, or The Blue Danube waltz.
Every New Year’s Eve, all six tiers of the haughty Vienna State Opera’s glittering auditorium are packed for a performance of the only operetta the company condescends to perform, the same Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.
But at midnight, television, radio and the internet all broadcast first the chimes from Vienna’s venerable St Stephen’s Cathedral, and then The Blue Danube. Across the country, in bars and in restaurants, on ski slopes or just on the street, young and old alike begin the New Year by dancing to the most famous waltz in the world.
It’s not about sadly saying goodbye to the old year but a joyful renewing, and the New Year in Austria wouldn’t be the same without it.
In 2025, however, the band will play on as the country spends all year celebrating the 200th anniversary of Johann II’s birth. In addition to the many glamorous balls held every year until late February, and where dancing to Strauss is guaranteed, there will be 65 Strauss-related performances and three exhibitions at 71 locations around the city, detailed at johannstrauss2025.at.
There will be a rare chance to hear some lesser-known works from his repertoire, to see performances in historic venues, to visit where he lived and even to stay where he played. But there’ll also be much that places Strauss in the 21st century, with concerts outdoors and in a circus tent; electronic versions and shows with augmented reality; a Strauss film, a Strauss detective novel and even a Strauss escape room.
