In 1870 the Society of the Friends of Music moved into its new building on Karlsplatz square in Vienna. It had been designed by Theophil Hansen and the foundation stone laid on 17 June 1867; the final stone was put in place by Emperor Franz Joseph on 5 January 1870, and on the following day, 6 January 1870, the opening concert was held in its Golden Hall. For the inaugural ball of the Society of the Friends of Music, which took place in the new building on 15 January 1870, Johann Strauss II had composed a new waltz and dedicated it to the society. Its title is taken from a very well-known poem by Johann Martin Usteri, which was set to music for the first time by Hans Georg Nägeli in 1794 and soon enjoyed enormous popularity: ‘Enjoy life while the lamp is still glowing.’ Johann Strauss II conducted the Strauss Orchestra in person to give the first performance of his new composition. Johann’s brothers also provided dedications for the ball: Josef wrote the polka Künstlergruss (Artists Greetings) and Eduard a polka mazurka, entitled Eisblume (Frost Flower). The title page of the piano edition, which was published just two weeks after ball by the music publishing house of Carl Anton Spina, shows the new Musikverein building and bears the dedication to the Society of the Friends of Music in Vienna. Curiously, C.A. Spina’s successor, Friedrich Schreiber, brought out in 1873 a piano edition with a title page which has a dedication to the Spanish King Amadeus Ferdinand Maria (1845–1890), who reigned from December 1870 to February 1873. However, compositions with several different dedications are nothing unusual among the works of Johann Strauss II. Synopsis: Prof. Norbert Rubey
Tuesday, 01. May 201211.00 o' clock Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal
Spring concert
Alfred Eschwé conductor
Program Johann Strauss II : Be embraced, ye millions! / Waltz op. 443 Johann Strauss II : From the Stock Exchange / Polka française op. 337 Johann Strauss II : Furioso Polka op. 260 Johann Strauss II : Treasure Waltz op. 418 Johann Strauss II : « Happy Is He Who Forgets!», Polka Mazurka op. 368 Johann Strauss II : Explosions Polka op. 43 Josef Strauss : Transactions / Waltz op. 184 Break Johann Strauss II : Overture to the operetta "The Gypsy Baron" Johann Strauss II : Where the Lemon Trees Blossom / Waltz op. 364 Johann & Josef Strauss : Pizzicato Polka Johann Strauss II : Egyptian March op. 335 Johann Strauss II : Orpheus Quadrille op. 236 Johann Strauss II : Excursion Train / Quick polka op. 281 Johann Strauss II : Enjoy Life! / Waltz op. 340
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