‘The immortal Waltz King’
2025 marks the anniversary of Johann Strauss II (1825-1899), one of the most pre-eminent composers and most widely performed musicians that Austria has ever produced. The occasion will be commemorated in Vienna with a range of celebrations and exhibitions. Strauss has been immortalised more than almost any other Austrian composer (with the possible exception of Mozart). Several roads and town squares bear his name, and monuments, plaques, sculptures, films and, in particular, stamps, banknotes, coins and medals have been created in his honour.
As part of the Curator’s Choice exhibition series, the Coin Cabinet features twelve numismatic memorials to Johann Strauss presented in this special display case. They offer a portrait of the Waltz King, reflecting not just Strauss as a person but also his works and legacy. He is considered an icon of the Second Republic and his image is closely linked to the era of the schilling, which was in circulation until 2002.
Born in Vienna in 1825, as the son of Viennese music director Johann Strauss I he was immersed in the world of music from a young age and embarked on the same career as a composer and conductor. In contrast to his father, however, his concerts mainly appealed to younger audiences interested in a new and innovative approach. His oeuvre encompasses polkas, marches, quadrilles, waltzes and operettas. Thanks to Strauss, the waltz became the musical embodiment of Vienna’s Biedermeier period and led to the heyday of dance music. His operettas Die Fledermaus [The Bat] and Der Zigeunerbaron [The Gypsy Baron] are some of the most widely performed works for musical theatre, while his An der schönen blauen Donau … [On the Beautiful Blue Danube] has become the unofficial anthem for Austrians. His concert tours took him from Austria all over Europe, across to Russia, and ultimately even to the United States of America.
Due to his participation in the revolutionary uprisings of 1848, it wasn’t until 1863 that Strauss was appointed Imperial-Royal Director of Music for the Balls at Court. From this point on he directed all balls organised by the Viennese court and, in 1871, was awarded the Order of Franz Joseph in recognition of his services. Johann Strauss married three times. For his third marriage, in 1886, he renounced his Austrian citizenship and became a citizen of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He remained a citizen of Coburg until his death in 1899 but retained a lifelong connection to Vienna and was given an honorary grave at the Vienna Central Cemetery.
The exhibition showcase will be on display from 27 January 2025!
Image: Anton Scharff (1845-1903), medal to mark the 50th anniversary of the artist, 1894, bronze, MK 1186/1914B
