"Alles Walzer" between the State Opera and Naschmarkt

The location of the new Johann Strauss Museum – near the State Opera and directly opposite Naschmarkt – would surely have pleased the composer of works like the Champagne Polka and Vienna Bonbons Waltz. The exhibition concept would also have delighted the “first pop star of music history,” as JOHANN
STRAUSS – NEW DIMENSIONS is presented as a multimedia masterpiece in seven acts: The first act spotlights Johann Strauss Sr., celebrated as the “devil’s violinist,” while the second act focuses
on the upheavals of the 1848 revolution and the start of Johann Strauss Jr.’s international career. Acts three and four then explore his success in Russia’s music scene and the world-famous Blue Danube Waltz. The topic of women is also addressed, from his mother to his three wives. Act 5 examines his turn toward
operetta and the period in which unique works like Die Fledermaus and The Gypsy Baron were created. The sixth act marks the end of an era with Johann Strauss’s death in 1899 and the beginning of his legacy.
The grand finale, the seventh and final act, takes place in an immersive room with 5.5-meter-high walls, visually retracing the central stages in Johann Strauss’s life. Using state-of-the-art technology, visitors can experience his music and legacy in a fascinating new dimension. This section also illustrates how the great composer and bandmaster continues to inspire people today and how contemporary artists bring his works into the present with modern interpretations.
“Liverpool has the Beatles. Tennessee has Elvis Presley. Vienna has Strauss. Up to 50 million people watch the New Year’s Concert each year, and countless tourists photograph the golden statue in Vienna’s Stadtpark. Yet, beyond this statue, there is hardly any comprehensive information available on Johann Strauss. We aim to fill this gap,” says Peter Hosek, the driving force behind the new museum and director of the two private operating companies, who is confident in the success of this innovative project. Anyone
who experiences Johann Strauss on site in all his new and old dimensions will agree.