Vienna celebrates 200 years of waltz king Johann Strauss with magnificent festivals!

Vienna celebrates 200 years of waltz king Johann Strauss with magnificent festivals!

In full bloom, the work of the great composer Johann Strauss is recognized this year, especially since Vienna celebrates its 200th birthday. Born on October 25, 1825 at Lerchenfelder Straße 15 in the inn "Zur Goldenen Duck", he is known as the "Waltz king" and has left an indelible impression on the Viennese music scene with his melodies. The Johann Strauss 2025 Project plans extensive celebrations that should help to convey the cultural importance of Strauss to the next generation.

The most impressive design of the city is certainly the statue of Strauss, which has been in the city park since 1921 and is one of the few golden statues in Vienna. Every year the "bat" attracts music lovers at the State Opera and the New Year's concerts in the Vienna Musikverein. Around 200,000 Viennese, about 10% of the population, have learned to dance the waltz in the Elmayer dance school - a tradition that is deeply rooted. A waltz course usually lasts 35 to 40 weeks and also also includes behavioral lessons. These special customs testify to the deep connection of the Viennese to Strauss ’music.

a complicated legacy and the truth behind the genius

Johann Strauss was not only a composer, but also a person with a versatile and often complex history. His great -grandson Eduard Strauss fights for a more realistic picture of his ancestor and criticizes the common performance practice of Strauss' works. He demands that the often overlooked satirical dimension in music is emphasized more. His efforts are in the context of the destruction of many original scores by Eduard after the death of his grandfather, which makes the performance practice considerably more difficult.

It was also Strauss that was surrounded by strong women - his mother and three wives managed his artistic work and contributed to self -expression. Even if the original locations in Vienna are rare, there is a small museum in Praterstrasse that offers insights into its life, while the "House of Strauss" in Casino Zögernitz creates multimedia experiences around his works.

celebrations and exhibitions

The celebrations for the 200th birthday on October 25, 2025 will be a highlight in the Vienna event calendar. The mayor will be present in the Vienna town hall and present musical gifts together with the population. With the interactive exhibition "New Dimensions", the Johann-Strauss Museum will also help visitors to be able to dive deeper into their life and work.

After the end of the Second World War, the famous Danube Waltz, which is one of the most famous pieces of Strauss, has been declared the unofficial hymn of Vienna and remains a symbol of the city to this day. A stay in the historic “Hotel Sacher” not only offers a nostalgic ambience, but was also a place where Strauss often run.

For everyone who wants to learn more about Johann Strauss' inheritance, there are numerous options: Tickets for the Johann-Strauss apartment costs only 5 euros, while entering the "House of Strauss" is 23 euros. The exhibition "New Dimensions" is to be visited from 25 euros. If you want a little more luxury, you will find a room in the Hotel Sacher from 578 euros or in the Hotel Graf Stadion from 199 euros.

In this sense, Vienna not only celebrates a large composer, but also celebrates a culture that is far from over. Johann Strauss remains an integral part of the Viennese identity and is carried on by generation to generation.