“BLUE DANUBE” WALTZ

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 160, 3 April 1937, Page 8 (Supplement)

“BLUE DANUBE” WALTZ

Strauss Celebration in

Vienna

Vienna recently re-echoed to the music of the most famous waltz ever written, the “Blue Danube” waltz ot Johanu Strauss, the world-conquering dance tune —when its seventieth birthday was celebrated. It was on February 13, 1867, that the “Blue Danube” was first performed at the old Diana Saal —to-day the Diana Bad, the best of Vienna’s wonderful swimming and turkish baths, which incidentally has lately been much frequented by the Duke of Windsor. During the birthday celebrations a tablet was unveiled there to commemorate the first performance. The waters of the Danube, diverted through the swift flowing cut known as the Danube Canal, actually wash the foundations of the Diana Bad. Ou the occasion of that first performance it w;is thd famous orchestra of the brothers Edward and Joseph Strauss which played it, assisted by the Vienna Male Voice Choir, who sang the words. It was originally a choral, composition of Johann Strauss, written for a poem about the Danube of which he was also the author. During the Faris Exhibition in 1867 Strauss discarded the choral part and conducted the waltz himself for the first time as an orchestral number. The celebrations included the deposit of a wreath on the curious little gilded bronze statue of Johann Strauss playing bis famous melody which stands in the Vienna Stadtpark. Governmental, municipal and musical personages participated in a ceremony outside the shabby old house, Praterstrasse No. 5-1, on the first floor of which Strauss composed his waltz 70 years ago. The “Blue Danube” was further honoured at a concert of the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by the composer’s grandson. Johann Strauss. Dr. Felix Weingartner and Professor Ferdinand Grossman. The original manu- ; .ript of the waltz is in the archives of the Vienna Male Choir for which be wrote it and who also sang it at the coucwk