Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) was an Austrian composer and conductor, nicknamed the 'Waltz King', who shaped the sound of 19th-century Vienna more than any other single musician. He wrote over 500 dance pieces - more than 150 of them waltzes - as well as operettas, of which Die Fledermaus (1874) and Der Zigeunerbaron (1885) remain cornerstones of the repertoire worldwide. His waltz An der schönen blauen Donau (1867) became one of the most recognisable melodies in Western music, later immortalised in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. His music still anchors the Vienna Philharmonic's annual New Year's Concert, watched by around 50 million viewers in over 150 countries.
The Vienna Philharmonic's 2025 New Year's Concert, conducted by Riccardo Muti, was dedicated to Strauss's 200th birthday and broadcast to over 90 countries.
Vienna staged a year-long bicentenary festival 'Johann Strauss 2025' with 65 productions across 10 genres and 3 major exhibitions at 69 locations throughout the city.
A new Johann Strauss Museum opened in Vienna in November 2024, offering a multimedia and interactive permanent tribute to the composer's life and work.
The major exhibition 'Johann Strauss - The Exhibition' opened at Vienna's Theater Museum on December 4, 2024, featuring original scores including that of Die Fledermaus.
The Volksoper Wien premiered a new production of Eine Nacht in Venedig on October 25, 2025 - Strauss's actual birthday - as part of the anniversary year.
Johann Strauss II's operetta in Julian Tuwim's Polish translation, staged at the Lublin Opera House under the direction of Artur Barciś.
Johann Strauss II's classic operetta about love, intrigue, and merriment in Viennese high society.
Johann Strauss II's beloved operetta performed by the Papageno Musiktheater ensemble in Frankfurt.