The Johann Strauss Society of Vienna
A historical overview

 

1936

Foundation of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna. The first president was Felix Weingartner, an acclaimed Austrian conductor,  who was twice appointed director of the Vienna State Opera.

1937

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the first performance of the Blue Danube Waltz the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna  launched its  first activities:

• A festive concert in the Golden Hall of the Wiener Musikverein under the baton of Felix Weingartner, which was broadcast live all over the world.
• A gala performance of Die Fledermaus in the Vienna State Opera, which was also aired to reach  international audiences across the globe.
• The unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the  Dianabad, the site where the Blue Danube Waltz was performed for the first time.

1938

The Society’s activities were suspended because of  the Annexation of Austria  into the German Reich.

1946

The Johann Strauss Society of Vienna was established anew. Franz Salmhofer, a conductor, composer and Director of the Vienna State Opera,was appointed as its president.

1947

Hubert Marischka, the most prominent performer after Alexander Girardi and one of  the most famous directors of the Theater an der Wien, who also played an important part in creating the genre of  the Viennese operetta, took over the interim management of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna. Its new president  was Edmund Eysler, one of the most successful composers of  the Silver Viennese Operetta era, the second epoch in the development of  the Viennese operetta.

1949

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Johann Strauss‘ death the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna organised a two-week Johann Strauss Festival in cooperation with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the State Opera Ballet, the Vienna Boys‘ Choir, the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra, the Vienna Volksoper and other institutions. The opening concert conducted by Karl Böhm, took place in the Theater an der Wien on June 2nd.

1950

Inspired by this outstanding success the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna arranged a one-week Festival of Viennese Music. Its enthusiastic reception prompted the Vienna City Administration to reinstate the Wiener Festwochen in 1951. During the following years the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna together with the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra concentrated on the production of gramophone records, with a focus on the recording of  works by Johann Strauss father and son, Josef Strauss and Franz von Suppè  that had not been recorded so far.

1960

Bruno Marek, President of  the Provincial Parliament of Vienna and Mayor of Vienna, presided over the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna.

1967

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first performance of the Blue Danube Waltz the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna organised a festive concert in the Golden Hall oft he Wiener Musikverein. With the support of both the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and the City Administration of Vienna the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna published critical editions of Johann Strauss orchestral works for  the first time.

1974

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Die Fledermaus the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna published a critical score of this famous operetta.

1983

Commissioned by the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna Franz Mailer brought out the first volume of the most detailed Strauss biography that had ever been published. The 10th and last volume was published in 2007.

1988

Based on the decade long comprehensive research and note collecting activities of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna the record company Marco Polo started the first and so far only recording of all works by Johann Strauss.

1992

The Johann Strauss Society of Vienna was chaired by Franz Mailer, programme consultant of the New Year’s Concerts of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and editor of the most comprehensive Strauss biography.

1995

Under the patronage of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna laid the foundation of a complete critical edition of Johann Strauss‘  works (scores and orchestral parts), which were published during the following 25 years. A compilation of Johann Strauss‘ stage works also occurred in this period.

1996

Creation of the Classical Operetta Ensemble of Vienna.  From that point on the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna was able to rely on its own ensemble to produce concerts and entire operettas, which were also shown abroad in the following years. CD and TV recordings were to follow.

1999

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Johann Strauss death the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna organised an international Johann Strauss Song Contest under the auspices of Thomas Klestil, the Federal President of the Republic of Austria.  The judging panel  consisted of international opera stars such as Sona Ghazarian, Christa Ludwig, Heinz Zednik, and Thomas Moser.

2001

Starting point  of the Johann Strauss operetta cycle. Within the following 13 years the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna put  all of Johann Strauss original operettas on stage under the overall artistic management and participation of Peter Widholz. This major undertaking was supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research as well as the City Administration of Vienna.

2005

Peter Widholz was appointed president of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna.

2013

For the first time,the annual  Golden Johann Strauss award was given to persons contributing to the appreciation and maintainance of Johann Strauss’works.

2017

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the first performance  of the Blue Danube Waltz a new plaque was unveiled at the site where the waltz had been played for the first time (at the new building of the Dianabad). The musical programme was arranged by the „Gardemusik Wien“ under the baton of  Bernhard Heher (head of the Austrian military band and bandmaster of the guards).