Long famous as a composer of dance music, in the mid-1860s Johann Strauss II made a completely fresh start: the triumphant success of Jacques Offenbach’s stage works in Vienna, economic considerations, and last but not least the expectations of the public led him to try his hand at composing operettas. His first attempts, for example to set to music a libretto by Josef Braun, Die lustigen Weiber von Wien (The Merry Wives of Vienna), were dismal failures. Strauss had never learned how to set words to music and express their contents in music. Maximilian Steiner, the artistic director of the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, recognised Strauss’s problem and put him in touch with a collaborator in the person of the experienced theatre conductor Richard Genée. In an interview with Curt von Celau of the Deutsche Revue journal in 1885, Genée recalled, ‘When Steiner was director I was given the task of getting Johann Strauss to compose for the stage, and used my experience of the theatre to provide help and support for him when he composed his first operettas Indigo and Fledermaus.’ And so on 26 May 1870 the contract was signed with the management of the Theater an der Wien. Finally, on 10 February 1871, the first performance of Strauss’s first operetta, Indigo und die vierzig Räuber, took place. Even before Strauss had conducted the overture there was resounding applause. Before then, on New Year’s Day 1871, the Fremden-Blatt newspaper reported that Strauss had played the overture at a concert in the apartments of Archduchess Sophie and the twelve-year-old Crown Prince Rudolf had commented favourably, ‘Je suis très content.’ In the concert hall the overture was first heard in the ‘Promenade Concert’ given by Johann’s youngest brother Eduard in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein on 19 February 1871, with Eduard conducting the Strauss Orchestra.
Johann Strauss (Sohn): Operette «Indigo» (Titelblatt Klavierausgabe)
Friday, 01. May 201511.00 o' clock Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal
Concert for National Holiday
Alfred Eschwé conductor Anita Goetz soprano
Program Johann Strauss II : Overture to the Operetta «Indigo and the Forty Thieves» Gaetano Donizetti : Aria of Norina «So anch'io la virtú», from the Opera «Don Pasquale» Josef Strauss : Artists's Greeting / Polka française op. 274 Josef Strauss : Jockey / Quick polka op. 278 Josef Strauss : Delirien / Waltz op. 212 Johann Strauss II : « Happy Is He Who Forgets!», Polka Mazurka op. 368 Giacomo Puccini : Aria of Lauretta «O mio babbino caro», from the opera «Gianni Schicchi» Johann Strauss II : City Hall Ball Dances / Waltz op. 438 Break Franz von Suppè : Overture to the Operetta «Pique Dame» Johann Strauss II : Arie der Annina «Was mir der Zufall gab» aus der Operette «Eine Nacht in Venedig» Johann Strauss II : Enjoy Life! / Waltz op. 340 Johann Strauss II : March of Rejoicing at the Deliverance of Emperor Franz Joseph I op. 126 Johann Strauss II : Artists Quadrille op. 201 Johann Strauss II : Tick Tock / Quick polka op. 365 Franz Lehár : «Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiß», Song from Operetta «Giuditta» Franz Lehár : Gold and Silver / Waltz op. 79 Encore Johann Strauss II : Hunting / Quick polka op. 373 Johann Strauss I : Radetzky March op. 228
Hinweis: Wenn Sie weitere Fragen rund um unsere Musikvereins-Konzerte haben, besuchen Sie bitte den FAQ-Bereich unserer Webseite. «Orchester-Diner Johann Strauss» Genießen Sie nach dem Konzert das exklusive «Orchester-Diner Johann Strauss» im Hotel Imperial. Weitere Informationen zu diesem Angebot finden Sie HIER Wissenschaftliche Kooperation: Teile des Programmes entstanden in Kooperation mit dem Zentrum für Zeitgenössische Musik der Donau-Universität Krems und der Sammlung Mailer / Strauss-Archiv.
Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal Musikvereinsplatz 1 1010 Vienna Austria Website About the concert hall Travel Directions Show Map
Dieses Konzert wurde ermöglicht durch die freundliche Unterstützung von:
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Wien
Vienna Culture
Thomastik Infeld Vienna
Hotel Imperial Vienna
Medienpartner:
Sammlung Mailer / Strauss Archiv
Do you want to be informed about our events? Sign up for our newsletter.
Concerts
Orchestra
Media
Shop
Licenses
Contact
Sitelinks
Partner
Newsletter