Johann Strauss II

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Lore & Background

Strauss was born into a Catholic family in St Ulrich near Vienna on 25 October 1825, to composer Johann Strauss I and Maria Anna Streim. His father did not want him to become a musician but rather a banker. Nevertheless, Strauss Jr. studied the violin secretly as a child with Franz Amon, the first violinist of his father's orchestra. When his father discovered him secretly practicing, he gave him a severe whipping, saying he was going to beat the music out of the boy. Only after the father abandoned the family for a mistress, Emilie Trampusch, could the son concentrate fully on a career as a composer with his mother's support. He studied counterpoint and harmony with theorist Professor Joachim Hoffmann, and his talents were recognized by composer Joseph Drechsler, who taught him exercises in harmony. During that time he composed his only sacred work, the gradual Tu qui regis totum orbem (1844). His other violin teacher, Anton Kollmann, wrote excellent testimonials. Armed with these, he approached the Viennese authorities to apply for a license to perform. He initially formed his small orchestra at the Zur Stadt Belgrad tavern. Strauss made his debut at Dommayer's Casino in October 1844, performing works including the waltzes 'Sinngedichte', Op. 1 and 'Gunstwerber', Op. 4, and the polka 'Herzenslust', Op. 3. A critic for Der Wanderer commented: 'Strauss's name will be worthily continued in his son; children and children's children can look forward to the future, and three-quarter time will find a strong footing in him.' His first major appointment was the honorary position of Kapellmeister of the 2nd Vienna Citizen's Regiment. During the revolutions of 1848, Strauss sided with the revolutionaries, which led the Austrian royalty to twice deny him the position of KK Hofballmusikdirektor. He was arrested by the Viennese authorities for publicly playing 'La Marseillaise' but was later acquitted. After his father's death from scarlet fever in Vienna in 1849, Strauss merged both their orchestras and later composed patriotic marches dedicated to Emperor Franz Josef I, such as the 'Kaiser Franz-Josef Marsch' Op. 67 and the 'Kaiser Franz Josef Rettungs Jubel-Marsch' Op. 126.

Reader's Guide

Johann Strauss II eventually attained greater fame than his father and became one of the most popular waltz composers of the era, extensively touring Austria, Poland, and Germany with his orchestra. He finally attained the position of KK Hofballmusikdirektor in 1863, after being denied several times before for his frequent brushes with the local authorities. In 1853, due to constant mental and physical demands, Strauss suffered a nervous breakdown and took a seven-week vacation in the countryside; his younger brother Josef was persuaded to abandon his career as an engineer and take command of Johann's orchestra in the interim. From 1856 to 1865, Strauss accepted commissions from the Tsarskoye-Selo Railway Company of Saint Petersburg to perform annually in Russia at Pavlovsk. In 1862, his brother Eduard officially joined the Strauss orchestra as another conductor. In 1872, Strauss came to the United States for the World's Peace Jubilee and International Musical Festival in Boston at the invitation of bandmaster Patrick Gilmore, where he was the lead conductor in a 'Monster Concert' of over 1000 performers performing his 'Blue Danube' waltz. During that visit, his valet clipped hair from Strauss's black Newfoundland dog to give to adoring female fans as 'authentic Strauss hair'. Strauss married singer Henrietta Treffz in 1862; they remained together until her death in 1878. Six weeks after her death, he married actress Angelika Dittrich, but their differences led him to seek a divorce. Not granted a decree of annulment by the Roman Catholic Church, Strauss changed religion and nationality and became a citizen of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in January 1887. He found solace in his third wife Adele Deutsch, whom he married in August 1887; she encouraged his creative talent, resulting in works such as the operettas Der Zigeunerbaron and Waldmeister and the waltzes 'Kaiser-Walzer' Op. 437, 'Kaiser Jubiläum' Op. 434, and 'Klug Gretelein' Op. 462.

Did You Know?

• Strauss composed his only sacred work, the gradual Tu qui regis totum orbem, in 1844.
• When his father discovered him secretly practicing the violin, he gave him a severe whipping, saying he would beat the music out of the boy.
• During his 1872 visit to the United States, his valet clipped hair from Strauss's black Newfoundland dog to give to fans as 'authentic Strauss hair'.
• Strauss was arrested by Viennese authorities for publicly playing 'La Marseillaise' during the 1848 revolutions, but was later acquitted.
• To marry his third wife Adele Deutsch, Strauss changed religion and nationality, becoming a citizen of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in January 1887.