The Johann Strauss Society of Vienna paid homage to the waltz king with a concert performance of the operetta „Waldmeister“- at the  place of his very first public appearance.

 

In the course of its almost 90-year history the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna has presented numerous performances of operettas and concerts of Johann Strauss at many prominent venues, where the waltz king had performed himself, such as the Vienna State Opera, the Golden Hall of the Wiener Musikverein, the Theater an der Wien and the Wiener Hofburg, but never at the place of his first appearance.

On 15th October 1844, at the age of 18, Johann Strauss made his debut in the Casino Dommayer, which was converted into the Parkhotel Schönbrunn in 1907. In its magnificent ballroom the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna presented his last internationally celebrated operetta „Waldmeister“. The concert performance with the soloists of the Classical Operetta Ensemble and the Gardemusik Wien under the baton of Oberst Prof. Bernhard Heher took place on 5th  February 2025. The linking texts were written by Peter Widholz and narrated by Marianne Nentwich, the doyenne of the Theater in der Josefstadt.

The large audience from home and abroad gave all performers a thunderous, never-ending applause. The Johann Strauss Society of Vienna had managed to successfully revive the operetta, which it had last performed on the occasion of its 75th anniversary in 2011.

The enthusiasm aroused by this brilliant performance was reflected in the famous opera magazine „ Der Neue Merker“ (and the Online-Merker) on 9th February 2025.

„Waldmeister“ ( concert performance) – operetta by Johann Strauss ( 1825 – 1899 ). Gala performance of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth in the ballroom of the Parkhotel Schönbrunn Hietzinger Hauptstraße 10-14, 1130 Wien.

A homage to the unforgotten, legendary waltz king

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss ( son) the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna presented a concert performance of the operetta „Waldmeister“ by Johann Strauss in the magnificent ballroom of the Parkhotel Schönbrunn in Hietzing, an elegant district of Vienna. The performing singers were the members of the Classical Operetta Ensembe Vienna. Prof.Mag.Peter Widholz, the President of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna, held a professional and competent welcoming speech, in which he drew attention to the historical site that was chosen as the venue for the performance.

On 15th October 1844, at the age of 18, Johann Strauss made his first public appearance as composer and conductor in the Etablissement Dommayer, which was located at the very place of the present Parkhotel Schönbrunn. This fact is even more interesting if one bears in mind that Strauss father had made every conceivable effort to prevent his son from following his footsteps. Johann Strauss had a special relation to Hietzing. His first operettas,“ Die Fledermaus“ among them, were composed in Hietzing, where he lived for many years. A number of streets in this area are named after singers and some of his relatives.

The festive performance stood under the patronage of Nikolaus Ebert, the district mayor of Hietzing, who also held a motivating and rousing welcoming speech. Prof. Widholz expressed his thanks to the Mayor of Hietzing as well as to „ Bäckerei Schwarz“ for supporting his efforts to bring about such a festive performance. The operetta „Waldmeister“, which was premiered in the „Theater an der Wien“ on 4th December 1895, was the last great triumph of Johann Strauss. The libretto was written by Gustav Davis.

Marianne Nentwich, the doyenne of the Theater in der Josefstadt, spoke the connecting words, guiding the audience through the plot in a poignant language, rich in nuances with an elegant speech melody and an excellent „ Schönbrunner“ accent. The Gardemusik Wien under the competent and energetic musical direction of Oberst Prof.Bernhard Heher let the audience immerse themselves in the composer’s oevre. Blissful waltzes, charming love songs and lively hunting polkas and marches. The Classical Operetta Ensemble enthusiastically presented a love story which, true to the genre of operetta, after some trials and tribulations, leads to a happy ending.  The impact of the „Waldmeisterbowle“ is by no means insignificant: under the influence of alcohol the matching couples come together.

The tenor Peter Widholz radiated superior ease and confidence when he sang the part of Botho von Wendt with his powerful ,high-pitched velvet voice.  Dorit Machatsch presented the part of Freda Heffele with charm, humour and vocal prowess. Her attractive appearance definitely contributed to the impression she made on the audience. Marco Ascani as Tymoleon von Gerius, chief forestry commissioner and director of the royal academy of forestry, convincingly presented a profound character  As already mentioned, Peter Widholz gave the part of Botho von Wendt a distinctive profile and headed the Classical Operetta Ensemble energetically and confidently. Claudia Camie as Pauline Paulini, singer at the Dresden Opera, impressed with vocal subtlety, an attractive appearance and authentic expressiveness. Alexander Aigner was convincing in the role of Erasmus Friedrich Müller, Professor of Botany. His baritone voice was technically homogeneous and well formed. He radiated confidence and joy of performing.

It was a firework of rousing melodies composed by the jubilarian Johann Strauss – a successful homage to the legendary waltz king, absolutely worthy of a gala performance. Small wonder that the audience in the fully booked ballroom rewarded the performers with thunderous applause.

Marisa Altmann-Althausen

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Survey of the performances of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna
on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss:

 

5th February:

„Waldmeister“ – concert performance of this extraordinary operetta in the ballroom of the Parkhotel Schönbrunn (at the site of the composer’s first public appearance)

 

11th February:

Festive rededication of the marble plaque in memory of the premiere of the  „Donauwalzer“ at the location of its first performance (for further information cf. „Highlights“ 2017)

 

22nd March

„An der schönen blauen Donau“ – concert exclusively with works of Johann Strauss (in the ballroom of the Grand Hotel Vienna) the site where Johann Strauss celebrated his 50th jubilee as a composer and conductor in 1894.

 

14th June

„Man lebt nur einmal“ – concert to commemorate several anniversaries and Remembrance Days 2025 (works of Johann Strauss included)

 

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