FESTIVITIES MARKING THE 150th RETURN OF THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE „DONAUWALZER“
One of the first activities of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna after its foundation in 1936 was the unveiling of the plaque commemorating the 70th anniversary of the waltz „An der Schönen Blauen Donau“. The ceremony took place at the premiere venue, the „Dianabad“ in the second district of Vienna, in 1937. When the building, which had been damaged during the Second World War, was pulled down, the plaque was transferred to the district museum Leopoldstadt. On 15th February 2017, a newly manufactured memorial plaque was unveiled in the entrance hall to the new Dianabad building by the District Mayor Uschi Lichtenegger und the President of the Johann Strauss Society Peter Widholz. The ceremony was attended by numerous personalities from the arts and culture as well as representatives from the business world and the media.
Besides the celebratory speeches of Uschi Lichtenegger and Peter Widholz, Willy Strauss, the only professional musician among the Strauss descendents and head of the Strauss family, delivered a speech in honour of the most famous member of his family.
The picture shows Willy Strauss and Edith Leyrer, the grande dame of the Austrian Cabaret, who had also come to pay homage to the waltz king.
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was represented by Prof. Werner Resel, former Chairman of the Board of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (left), and the Vienna State Opera by opera singer Heinz Zednik (middle). Inge Prebil-Strauss, granddaughter of Oscar Straus (right)
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was represented by Prof. Werner Resel, former Chairman of the Board of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (left), and the Vienna State Opera by opera singer Heinz Zednik (middle). Inge Prebil-Strauss, granddaughter of Oscar Straus (right)
Under his direction the band provided the musical accompaniment, which reached its climax with the Blue Danube Waltz.
Dkfm.Prof.Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer, the Austrian authority on good manners, and Willy holding the Golden Johann Strauss statuette.
The TV Legend Hilli Reschl (left), honorary vice-consul Birgit Sarata (right) and Kommerzialrat Gerhard Bocek, head of the Marchfelderhof Restaurant (between the two ladies).
The ceremony took place on the large staircase in front of the Dianabad entrance in beautiful early spring weather. It was followed by a reception in the foyer and a gala dinner in the Marchfelderhof Restaurant. Some more artists from the Wiener Volksoper joined the guests and paid homage to the composer of the secret anthem of Austria.
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When in 2020 the Dianabad was closed for economic reasons, the plaque was removed, and in 2025, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss‘ birth, rededicated at a column in front of the closed bathing complex. The festive event took place on 11th February 2025. Despite the cold weather and icy wind quite a few people attended the ceremony and applauded the speeches of President Peter Widholz, Leopoldstadt District Mayor Alexander Nikolai, and Willy Strauss, head of the Strauss family. The celebration was musically accompanied by the Gardemusik Wien under Bernhard Heher. After the presentation of the Donauwalzer at the highest artistic level the guests applauded wildly and called for an encore. So the band concluded the festivity with the Radetzkymarsch by Johann Strauss father.
